CP-575 vs Form 147C: How to Replace a Lost EIN Confirmation Letter
A bank asks for your EIN confirmation. You dig through your files and can't find the CP-575 the IRS mailed when your LLC was formed — and here's the catch: the IRS doesn't remail that original letter. The fix is Form 147C, a replacement letter you request by phone, no SSN required, often by fax within the same call. This guide covers the difference between the two, a 2026 development that doesn't yet help most non-residents, and the actual steps to get a replacement.
The important part first: the IRS does not remail the original paper CP-575. Form 147C is the practical path to an accepted replacement.
What CP-575 Actually Is
When your LLC is assigned an EIN, the IRS mails CP-575, confirming the number and entity name. Banks, Stripe, and PayPal accept it as written proof of your EIN, and it's frequently what gets requested when opening an account or verifying your business identity. But the original paper series (CP575A through CP575J) cannot be duplicated in that same form, per the IRS itself. Losing it isn't a dead end, but it does mean you need the alternate route the rest of this guide covers.
The 2026 Development: A Digital CP575 — Not Yet for Most LLCs
In 2026 the IRS began offering a digital CP575 through its online Business Tax Account, and it says this digital version can substitute for both the paper original series and Letter 147C (IRS.gov, updated June 16, 2026). On paper, that sounds like the fix.
But full Business Tax Account registration currently requires an SSN or ITIN, and more directly relevant here: single-member LLCs are excluded from registering as a business entity at all. The IRS has said designated-official access for single-member LLCs is planned for a future release, with no confirmed date as of mid-2026. Since the large majority of OpenEntity clients own exactly that structure — a foreign-owned single-member LLC with no SSN — this development doesn't practically help most of them today. The phone route below remains the realistic option.
What Form 147C Is
Letter 147C is the IRS's on-request verification letter — it carries the same EIN and the same entity name as your original CP-575, and banks and payment processors accept it as an equivalent substitute. The practical difference: you don't fill out a form yourself; you request it during a phone call and an agent generates it on the spot.
How to Request It: Three Steps
Requesting Form 147C doesn't require an appointment or a paper form — one phone call is enough in most cases:
Call the right line
US toll-free 1-800-829-4933, or +1-267-941-1099 from outside the US. Business hours, Monday-Friday.
Verify with business details
EIN, legal entity name, formation date, and address on file — no SSN or ITIN needed.
Ask for a fax, not mail
A fax typically arrives the same call. Mail to a non-US address can take weeks and isn't reliable.
The part that surprises a lot of non-residents: you won't be asked for a Social Security Number at any point. The IRS verifies you through the business's own details — which is exactly why this route works for foreign LLC owners who never had an SSN or ITIN to begin with.
Why Banks Ask for This Specific Document
Your Articles of Organization prove your LLC legally exists, and a W-9 declares your EIN, but neither is issued by the IRS itself as a direct confirmation of that number. CP-575 and 147C are the only two documents the IRS itself generates, which is why banks and payment processors treat them as an extra verification layer when opening an account for a foreign-owned entity.
What OpenEntity's Plan Covers in Year 1
OpenEntity's Year-1 formation package includes your EIN and original CP-575 letter, alongside your registered agent. Save a digital copy the moment you receive it — that alone saves you a future call to the IRS. If it's ever lost down the line, the steps above apply whether your LLC was formed with us or elsewhere. OpenEntity is a business formation and consulting service, not a tax-preparation firm.
FAQ
What is a CP-575 letter?
CP-575 is the letter the IRS mails once, automatically, when it assigns your LLC an EIN. It's the document banks, Stripe, and PayPal typically ask for as proof of your EIN. The IRS traditionally does not remail the paper CP-575 series if it's lost — that's the whole reason Form 147C exists as a replacement path. This is general information, not tax advice — confirm your situation with a qualified advisor.
What is Form 147C, and how is it different from CP-575?
Letter 147C is the IRS's official EIN-verification letter — the document it issues on request when you can't produce your original CP-575. It carries the same EIN and entity name and is accepted by banks and payment processors as an equivalent substitute. You don't fill out a form yourself; an IRS agent generates it during your call. This is general information, not tax advice.
Can I get my original CP-575 reissued instead?
As of 2026, the IRS has started offering a digital CP575 through its online Business Tax Account, which it says can substitute for both the paper CP575A-J series and Letter 147C (IRS.gov, updated June 16, 2026). In practice this doesn't yet help most OpenEntity clients: Business Tax Account registration currently requires an SSN or ITIN, and single-member LLCs are excluded from registering as a business entity at all — the IRS has said designated-official access for single-member LLCs is planned for a future release, with no confirmed date as of mid-2026 (IRS.gov Newsroom). For most non-resident single-member LLC owners today, the phone-call-to-147C route below is still the only realistic path. This is general information, not tax advice — advisor guidance changes as the IRS rolls this out further.
Do I need an SSN to request Form 147C?
No. You verify your identity to the IRS agent using business details — EIN, legal entity name, formation date, and address on file — not a personal US tax number. This is exactly why the phone route works for non-resident founders who never had an SSN or ITIN to begin with. This is general information, not tax advice.
How do I actually request Form 147C as a non-resident calling from abroad?
Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933 if you can reach a US toll-free number, or the international line at +1-267-941-1099 if you're calling from outside the US. Both lines operate during US business hours, Monday to Friday. Ask the agent to fax the letter rather than mail it — a fax typically arrives the same call, while a mailed copy to a non-US address can take weeks and isn't guaranteed to reach you reliably. This is general information, not tax advice.
Why do banks and Stripe specifically ask for CP-575 or 147C?
It's the only document that ties your business's legal name directly to its EIN in a format the IRS itself issued — banks and payment processors use it to confirm the entity applying for an account is the same one the IRS assigned that number to. A W-9 or your Articles of Organization don't serve the same verification purpose. This is general information, not tax advice.
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Check if I qualify — free, 60 secondsDisclaimer: OpenEntity is a private business formation and consulting firm and does not provide legal or tax advice. Everything in this article is general information for educational purposes only and may not reflect your specific facts or the latest IRS guidance. Consult a qualified cross-border tax advisor or licensed CPA before acting on anything here.