CP-575 vs 147C Letter: Differences and Lost EIN Retrieval

CP-575 is the notice the IRS mails automatically the first time your EIN is assigned — it's issued exactly once, when your LLC's EIN is created, and the IRS does not reissue it. It confirms your EIN, your entity's legal name, and the date the number was assigned.

A 147C is a verification letter the IRS issues on request, confirming an EIN that already exists — you can ask for one by phone (IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line) or fax at any point after your EIN was assigned, as many times as you need. If you've lost your original CP-575, a 147C is the standard replacement document, and for most verification purposes (bank applications, Stripe, tax filings) it carries the same weight as the original.

Underwriters at Stripe, Mercury, Wise Business, and similar platforms use the CP-575 or 147C as their primary proof that your EIN genuinely belongs to your LLC, rather than taking a plain text number on a form. These documents are IRS-issued, carry your exact legal entity name, and can't be self-generated — which is exactly why they function as a trust anchor during KYB underwriting. A mismatched name between your CP-575/147C and your other formation documents (Articles of Organization, Operating Agreement) is one of the more common reasons a bank application stalls.

Either is generally accepted — submit whichever you currently have. If you have your original CP-575, use it. If it's lost, misplaced, or you never received a physical copy (common for EINs obtained for non-residents via fax/third-party designee), request a 147C instead. Some platforms explicitly ask for 147C by name since it's the document format their verification team is trained to recognize, so when in doubt, the 147C is the safer default to provide.

If you've lost both your CP-575 and don't have a copy of a prior 147C, you (or your authorized third-party designee) can call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line to request a new 147C, which the IRS will fax or mail depending on the request method. Have your EIN, exact entity legal name, and formation state ready — the IRS verifies identity before releasing any EIN confirmation.

HynoGo's EIN service includes third-party designee authorization on IRS Form SS-4, which means we can request and retrieve a 147C verification letter on your behalf if your original CP-575 is ever lost — without you needing to navigate the IRS phone system from outside the US.