Guide · IRS Documentation

IRS EIN confirmation letters: CP 575 vs 147C.

The two letters every U.S. bank and payment processor recognises as proof of EIN — what each is, why founders are routinely asked for them mid-onboarding, and how to request the replacement when the original cannot be found.

CP 575

Original EIN assignment notice

Issued once, by mail

CP 575 is the IRS notice generated at the moment an EIN is assigned. It states the entity's legal name, the assigned EIN, and the responsible party on file. It is the document U.S. banks and payment processors expect to see at first onboarding.

The IRS issues CP 575 once. There is no portal to download it again, no reprint, no duplicate. If the address on Form SS-4 is wrong, undeliverable, or the letter is misplaced, it is gone — and the replacement is a 147C.

For non-resident founders, CP 575 is routinely lost in international mail or sent to a registered agent who does not forward it. Treat the first scan of CP 575 as a critical operational asset and archive it before anything else.

147C

EIN verification letter

Issued on request, replaces CP 575

147C is the IRS-issued verification letter requested when CP 575 has been lost or never received. It carries the same evidentiary weight for U.S. bank account opening, Stripe and PayPal underwriting, and counterparty diligence.

Requested by phone with the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line. The responsible party — or a third-party designee on Form 2848 or 8821 — must verify entity details before issuance. Delivery is by mail to the address on file or by fax to a U.S. fax number.

For non-residents this is the practical document. Most operational issues are solved with a 147C, not by chasing a CP 575 reprint that does not exist.

When the letter is asked for

The moments CP 575 or 147C blocks onboarding.

U.S. business bank account opening

Mercury, Relay, Chase, Bank of America and most U.S. banks list CP 575 or 147C as an accepted EIN verification document. Without one, the application is paused.

Stripe account verification

Stripe routinely requests an IRS-issued EIN letter when entity name or responsible-party details cannot be matched against IRS records during underwriting.

PayPal business onboarding

PayPal escalates to documentary EIN verification for non-resident-owned entities and accepts CP 575 or 147C.

Counterparty and enterprise contract diligence

Enterprise clients, marketplaces and payment partners may request an IRS-issued EIN letter as part of vendor onboarding or KYB.

State tax registrations and reseller permits

Several state agencies request an IRS-issued EIN letter when registering for sales tax, withholding, or reseller permits.

EIN responsible-party update on Form 8822-B

When updating the responsible party, the IRS may reference the current 147C in correspondence; having an up-to-date copy on hand shortens the loop.

Requesting a 147C as a non-resident

The practical sequence.

01 · Confirm responsible party. The IRS will only release the letter to the responsible party on record, or to an authorised third party with Form 2848 (Power of Attorney) or 8821 (Tax Information Authorization) on file. Resolve this first.

02 · Call the Business & Specialty Tax Line. Available during U.S. business hours. Non-resident founders typically schedule the call in advance to align with U.S. East Coast morning hours, when hold times are shortest.

03 · Verify entity details. Be ready with legal entity name as registered, EIN, formation state, mailing address on file, and responsible-party identifiers. Mismatch on any field ends the call without issuance.

04 · Choose delivery. Mail to the address on file (slow, international) or fax to a U.S. fax number (same-call delivery). Most operational founders use a U.S. fax-to-email service for immediate receipt.

05 · Archive in the operating data room. Store the 147C alongside the Certificate of Formation, EIN, operating agreement, and registered-agent confirmation. Banks and processors will ask for it again.

Common mistakes

Where founders lose weeks.

Submitting a screenshot of the EIN confirmation email from a third-party formation provider in place of an IRS-issued letter. It is not the same document and is routinely rejected.

Calling without the responsible party on the line and without a 2848 or 8821 on file. The IRS will not release the letter — the call ends and the bank or processor timer continues.

Requesting delivery to a non-U.S. fax number. The IRS only faxes 147C to U.S. fax numbers; a U.S. fax-to-email service resolves this.

Letting the responsible-party record drift. When the original responsible party is no longer reachable, 147C requests stall until a Form 8822-B update is processed.

Disclaimer: This guide is general information for international founders. It is not legal or tax advice. Brightincorp is not a law firm, CPA firm, or registered tax preparer. EIN documentation coordination is administrative and procedural. Tax filings and responsible-party determinations should be reviewed by an appropriately licensed advisor.

EIN documentation, coordinated.

Brightincorp coordinates EIN issuance, CP 575 retrieval, and 147C requests as part of every formation engagement — so bank and payment processor onboarding does not stall on documentation.

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