Updated June 24, 2020:

You may need a copy of EIN letter from IRS on various occasions to confirm your tax ID to your bankers, financers, and vendors. The IRS issues this letter in Form CP 575 within eight to 10 weeks of assigning you an Employer Identification Number (EIN). If you lose or misplace the original confirmation letter, you can request the IRS for a verification letter, which would for all purposes, substitute the original letter or certificate.

Why Do You Need an EIN?

An EIN, or an Employer Identification Number, is a unique nine-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to a business entity. An EIN is for a business what a Social Security number (SSN) is for an individual. Businesses use this ID while filing tax returns, obtaining business licenses and industrial permits, opening bank accounts, and for various other purposes like submitting Form 1099 for contracting work.

Sole proprietors may want to obtain an EIN in order to avoid using their Social Security number for business purposes. Banks usually insist on providing EIN details for opening a bank account in the name of your business. Sometimes, your investors and vendors may also ask for your EIN.

EIN Confirmation Letter

On approval of your EIN application, the IRS mails you a confirmation letter within eight to 10 weeks of assigning you an EIN. This confirmation letter is known as Form CP 575 and is mailed to the address mentioned in your Form SS-4 application.

If you happen to lose or misplace your original EIN confirmation letter, which is typically a tax ID certificate, you can get an EIN verification letter only from the IRS. This verification letter serves the purpose of the original confirmation letter you received from the IRS. Thus, if you lose your EIN confirmation letter, you may need to obtain a verification letter to open a bank account or to confirm your EIN to your vendors.

How to Get an EIN Verification Letter From the IRS

Although it would be enough to know your EIN for conducting your daily business, you may need a copy of your EIN confirmation letter on several occasions. Before you start searching for the letter, know that this letter would be in Form CP 575. So, if you have Form CP 575 with you, you already have the confirmation letter. The IRS typically mails this form within 10 weeks of approving your EIN application.

If you can't trace your confirmation letter, you should put together some relevant information so that the retrieval process becomes easier. First off, if you only need the number, you need not locate the confirmation letter. You can find the number from your bank records, previous tax filings, or your business communication with the IRS.

You may need to know some details to confirm your identity to the IRS — for example, your business address as it appears in the IRS records and the type of form that your business uses for filing tax returns.

The easiest way to get a copy of an EIN verification letter is to call the IRS. Follow the below process to obtain a tax ID verification letter from the IRS:

  • Call the IRS support at 800-829-4933.
  • Provide the name of your business and other verification details like address and phone number to the support executive.
  • Request the support executive for a 147c letter; placing such a request is free.
  • If your contact information is the same as what you provided when applying for the EIN, the IRS can send you the verification letter through mail or fax.
  • If your contact information has changed, you can receive the verification letter only after you file Form 8822.

Getting a Copy of an EIN Letter From the Bank

Receiving a verification letter from the IRS can take about a month. If you've submitted a copy of your original EIN certificate to your bank, getting a copy from there would be much quicker. Although a photocopy received from the bank can't substitute the IRS verification letter, it can serve the purpose in some urgent situations. For example, your vendors may accept it as a proof of your EIN.

If you applied for the EIN through an external accountant or agency, you may be able to get a copy of your confirmation letter from them. If you applied for the EIN through the IRS website, try looking for the IRS confirmation email.

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