Fact Checked by Editorial Staff 
An EIN or Employer Identification Number is one of the most important documents any business (located in the United States) requires. From opening a bank account to tax filing, an EIN is needed at almost every step while running and managing a business across all states. The Internal Revenue Service, aka IRS, issues the EIN by sending a confirmation letter (CP 575) to the applicant (responsible party).
Now, what happens if a responsible party loses this letter and is required to issue another one or a copy? IRS simply denies that. Once issued, the original EIN confirmation letter cannot be issued again by the IRS. Instead, they issue another verification letter (147C) in the name of the responsible party. In this article, let’s dig into what happens when you lose your CP 575!
- IRS issues CP 575 – EIN confirmation letter only once.
- CP 575 letter is mailed to the Responsible Party, no other ways are available.
- Upon losing the CP 575, 147C letter can be requested as a replacement.
- Responsible Parties can request 147C letter for free.
What is a CP 575 or EIN Confirmation Letter?
An EIN confirmation letter (CP 575) is a document confirming that the EIN has been generated for the Responsible Party. IRS sends the CP 575 letter via mail and not in any other way. A CP 575 letter is proof that the EIN has been generated by the IRS in a legit way.
Once the EIN application by the party is approved, the Internal Revenue Service mails the letter within 10 working days. As mentioned earlier, CP 575 is the most important letter when it comes to tax filing and several business-related financial transactions. Losing the confirmation letter can harm the business flow in many ways. From tax disputes to financial flow restrictions, a lost CP 575 letter can do anything to your business.
How to Retrieve CP 575
Technically, the CP 575 letter cannot be reissued or retrieved. Instead, the party can request a replacement for the original letter. A 147C letter is issued by the IRS as an EIN verification letter and an official replacement of the original confirmation letter CP 575.
How to Request a 147C Letter?
It is easy and free for any Responsible Party. To request a 147C letter, the party has to go through a few simple steps. The following are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Contact the IRS
According to the IRS, after losing the CP 575, you can try a few things to get it back or find it before you contact the IRS.
- Past business tax returns
- The bank that has the business account
- The notice that the IRS issued when applying for the EIN
- Agencies where local business licenses were applied to
If the letter is still not found, you can directly call the IRS on the phone. The number and timing for the US and foreign applicants are as follows:
- US: US citizens can call on the number 800-829-4933, from 7 AM to 7 PM local time. Except for Hawaii and Alaska, which follow the Pacific Time Zone.
- Non-US: Non-US applicants can contact the IRS at the number (267) 941-1099 from 6 AM to 11 PM (Eastern time).
Step 2: Share Business Details for Verification
The party has to provide their business details over the phone. The IRS will verify the details and take further steps accordingly. Make sure the details are correct and the same as provided at the time of EIN application. The details you need to provide,
- EIN (if you don’t have it, use SSN/ITIN)
- Name and position of the responsible party in the company
- Registered business address and mailing address with the IRS at the time of application
- Date when the EIN is assigned
Step 3: Verification Process by IRS
Once the details are shared, the IRS team verifies them. If all of them are correct, they start processing the replacement.
Step 4: Wait Time for 147C Delivery
Once the verification is done from the IRS side, the 147C letter is generated and sent to the responsible party. The standard wait time is approximately 6 weeks. The IRS sent it via mail. In some cases, the letter is faxed to the party. It is faster. You can get it within 14 business days.
The wait time varies depending on whether there is a peak season or an overcrowded applicant pool. In such a time, it takes more than 2 weeks to issue the 147C letter by the IRS.
CP 575 vs 147C Letter
| CP 575 | 147C |
|---|---|
| Original EIN Confirmation Letter | Replacement of the Original one |
| Cannot be reissued if lost | Can be reissued anytime if lost |
| Considered as the primary document in Banks and other financial institutions. | If CP 575 is missing, 147C is considered an official document from the IRS in banks and other financial institutions |
| Generated within 10 working days after EIN application approval and sent via mail | Issued and sent via mail or fax (if it is urgently required) |
Tips to Get the 147C Letter Faster
There is no official expedited filing to issue the 147C Letter. It maintains a standard delivery process. However, there are some tips one can follow if they want it to arrive earlier than the usual time.
- Call them directly on the phone instead of emailing them.
- Call around mid-week, the rush is low.
- Get ready with all the information required for verification before the call
- Appoint a CPA or an attorney for this job. Get the Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) from the IRS, and get a representative who can call to the IRS or escalate the process.
Conclusion
The EIN confirmation letter (CP 575) is one of the most important documents you must not lose. This is the sole proof banks and financial institutions receive for any commercial transactions, no matter how small or big that is. The worst part of losing it is that the IRS never reissues the same document. You can have a replacement, but not the original one.
However, if anyone loses the CP 575 letter, requesting the 147C letter isn’t a big deal if done carefully. There is no secret recipe to get it faster; however, if done carefully and skillfully, it might be less complicated to get it sooner.