Your bank, Stripe, or Amazon just asked for your “EIN letter.” Problem: you either lost it or never received it in the first place. If that’s you, this guide explains exactly what to do. The document they want is either your original EIN confirmation letter (CP575) or its official replacement, the EIN verification letter, IRS Letter 147c. Both prove that your EIN, business name, and address match IRS records.
For foreign founders this small piece of paper causes outsized pain: frozen Stripe payouts, rejected bank applications, stalled Amazon seller verification. In this post we explain the difference between the CP575 and the 147c letter, how to get a copy of your EIN letter from the IRS as a non-US resident without an SSN, and what to check next so your US company doesn’t hit the same wall twice.
Key takeaways
- The CP575 is issued when your EIN is assigned. The 147c letter is the official replacement.
- Banks and payment processors treat CP575 and 147c as interchangeable proof of your EIN.
- The only way to get a 147c letter is to call the IRS. There is no online request and no form to file. The IRS does not send it by email.
- You can request a 147c without an SSN or ITIN, as long as you are an authorized person for the business.
Applying for a new EIN instead? Download our free EIN filing checklist for non-residents to get it right the first time.
What is an EIN letter? CP575 vs 147c explained
An EIN letter is the IRS document that proves your Employer Identification Number belongs to your business. There are two versions: the CP575, sent automatically when your EIN is first assigned, and the 147c, sent on request as a replacement. Banks and platforms accept either one.
Here’s the confusion we see constantly: founders think that because they have their EIN, they have what the bank needs. But they don’t. Knowing your nine-digit number and holding IRS proof of that number are two different things.
Anyone can type nine digits into a form. The letter is what connects those digits to your exact legal entity name in the IRS database. That connection is what banks verify under their know-your-customer rules.
CP575:
The EIN confirmation letter the IRS sends one time, automatically, when your EIN is first assigned. It shows your legal business name, your EIN, and the address on file.
147C letter:
An EIN verification letter the IRS sends on request to confirm an existing EIN. It carries the same weight as the CP575 and is the only replacement the IRS offers.
| CP575 | 147c letter | |
|---|---|---|
| When you get it | Once, when the EIN is assigned | Any time, on request |
| How you get it | Automatically by mail (or fax, if you applied by fax with a return number) | Phone call to the IRS |
| Can it be reissued? | Typically not | Yes, as often as needed |
| Accepted by banks and processors? | Yes | Yes |
| Cost | Free | Free |
The IRS recently introduced an option for taxpayers to order a replacement CP575 notice directly through their online business tax account but this is typically not available to foreign-owned single member LLCs at this time. Setting up an IRS business tax account requires either a multi-member LLC where the owners have SSNs/ITINs, or an S Corp or C Corp.
Why is my bank (or Stripe) asking for an EIN letter?
Banks and payment platforms request an EIN letter because they must verify that your EIN matches your legal entity name before they let money flow. It’s a US compliance requirement, that they will not and cannot waive.
You’ll typically be asked for a CP575 or 147c when you:
- Open a US business bank account. Mercury, Relay, and traditional banks all request it. Our guide on opening a US business bank account as a non-resident covers the full document stack.
- Verify Stripe, PayPal, or Shopify Payments. Processors match your tax identity before releasing payouts.
- Complete Amazon Seller Central tax interviews.
- Set up payroll with providers like Gusto or ADP.
- Register in an additional state or apply for licenses and loans.
One important detail that can cause founders real pain: the name on your EIN letter must match your formation documents and your platform profiles character for character. Even a small mismatch between your Stripe application and IRS records can freeze verification until you prove which version is correct. The 147c letter is how you prove it.
What is a 147c letter from the IRS?
A 147c letter is an official IRS letter that verifies your existing EIN, your legal business name, and the address the IRS has on file. It does not assign a new EIN. It confirms the one you already have.
Let’s clear up the biggest misconception right away: there is no “Form 147C” to fill out. Despite what many people search for, it’s not a form at all. It’s a letter the IRS prints and sends to you after you request it by phone. Any website offering a “147c form download” is either confused or selling you something you can get free from the IRS.
The second misconception: no, you cannot get a 147c letter online. The IRS will never email it to you either. Delivery is by fax or postal mail only.
How to get a 147c letter as a non-US founder (step by step)
Getting a 147c letter takes one phone call, some patience and preparation. Request fax delivery and you can receive the letter the same day.
Here’s the process:
- Confirm you’re an authorized person. The IRS will only issue a 147c to someone authorized on the account: the owner, an LLC member, or a corporate officer. If a third party applied for your EIN, you as the owner can still call, but see the pitfalls below.
- Gather your details exactly as filed on Form SS-4. Legal entity name, EIN (if you know it), business address, and the responsible party’s name. “Exactly” is the key word. The agent verifies you against what’s in the system, not against what’s on your current letterhead.
- Call the IRS. The Business & Specialty Tax Line at +1 800-829-4933 (Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. US local time) is the standard channel. It’s a US toll-free number, so from abroad it may not connect through a regular phone line. Hold times can be long too.
Calling from outside the US? Try the IRS international line at +1 267-941-1000 (not toll-free, Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. US Eastern time) instead. It’s staffed for international callers. In our experience it’s often easier to get through than the domestic line. Either way, midweek mornings US time typically have the shortest waits. - Verify your identity. The agent asks about the business details from your SS-4. You do not need an SSN or ITIN. If you filed with “Foreign” on line 7b, that’s what’s on record. Confirming the entity details is what counts.
- Ask for fax delivery and stay on the line. Say: “Could you please fax the 147c letter to me now?” The agent typically sends it while you wait. Confirm receipt before hanging up, because once the call ends, they can’t resend without a new call. If you can’t receive a fax, the IRS mails the letter to the address on file, which takes 4 to 6 weeks, often longer to international addresses.
What goes wrong on the call
Three failure patterns come up again and again:
- Your details don’t match IRS records. If your address changed or your name was filed slightly differently, the agent can’t authenticate you. You’ll need to dig up your original SS-4 or file the correction first (Form 8822-B for address and responsible party changes).
- The letter goes to an address you can’t access. If the IRS will only mail it and the address on file is a virtual office or an old registered agent, make sure someone is actually receiving that mail.
- The fax never arrives. It happens. Stay on the line until you confirm receipt. If it fails, ask the agent to resend before ending the call.
Never received your CP575? Why this happens to foreign founders
If your CP575 never arrived, you’re not alone. It’s usually not the IRS being slow either. For foreign-owned LLCs, the CP575 travels by post. International delivery can take 2 to 4 months, and one weak link is enough for the letter to vanish entirely. The usual suspects:
- An address error on the SS-4. One typo and the letter is gone. The IRS doesn’t resend it.
- A virtual address with no mail handling. The letter arrived, nobody scanned it.
- The third-party designee trap. This is the one that makes us genuinely angry on founders’ behalf. Cheap EIN gigs, the $10 to $50 kind, often list themselves as the recipient. The IRS sends your CP575 to them. Then they ghost, or they email you just the nine-digit number and keep (or toss) the letter. You technically have an EIN. You practically have nothing a bank will accept.
The EIN letter problem is almost always a formation problem, not an IRS problem. I’ve seen founders face weeks of banking or payout delays over the EIN letter. When we form companies, the SS-4 is filed with a working return fax number and a reliable address. The EIN confirmation goes into the client’s file the day it arrives, because we know the tax and banking side needs it later. If you’re still comparing formation services, ask: “Where will my CP575 be?” If they can’t answer, keep looking. And if you’re reading this after the fact, don’t beat yourself up. Get the 147c, then let’s fix the rest of your setup.
— Vincenzo Villamena, CPA — CEO at Entity Inc.
You got your 147c. Here’s what comes next (your formation service may not have told you)
If you needed this guide, chances are your formation was handled by a service that stopped at “here’s your LLC and EIN.” The letter was the symptom. Here’s what else is probably sitting unaddressed:
- Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120. Virtually every foreign-owned single-member US LLC must file these annually, even with no revenue. The penalty for missing it starts at $25,000. Our guide to foreign-owned LLC taxation covers the details.
- State obligations. Annual reports, franchise taxes, and registered agent renewals vary by state and lapse quietly.
- Bookkeeping that stands up to scrutiny. Form 5472 reports the money that moved between you and your LLC: contributions, distributions, payments. Founders who track this on the back of a Stripe dashboard end up guessing those numbers. Clean books also document why your income isn’t US-taxable in the first place, and they feed your home-country filings. We at Entity Inc. offer bookkeeping built for exactly these filings.
If any of this is news to you, that’s precisely the problem. Book a consultation with our team. We deal with the IRS for foreign founders every week. The EIN letter is the easy part. We’ll make sure the rest of your US setup isn’t accumulating penalties.
How to avoid needing a 147c again
Once your 147c arrives, spend five minutes making sure you never have to repeat this exercise:
- Scan or save the letter as a PDF immediately, in at least two places (cloud storage plus your company records folder).
- Make sure you are the responsible party on record, not a formation agent.
- Keep your IRS address current. If you move or change registered agents, file Form 8822-B.
- Use the identical legal name and address everywhere: state filings, IRS, bank, Stripe, Amazon.
Founders who work with a full-service provider get this by default. The same file that holds your formation documents holds your EIN letter. The same team that filed your SS-4 files your taxes.
Frequently asked questions about EIN letters
Is a 147c letter the same as an EIN confirmation letter?
Functionally yes. The CP575 is the original EIN confirmation letter. The 147c is the verification letter the IRS issues as a replacement. Banks, Stripe, and Amazon accept both as official proof of your EIN.
Can I get a copy of my EIN letter online?
No, there is no online portal to download or lookup EIN letters. The IRS recently introduced an option for taxpayers to order a replacement CP575 notice directly through their online business tax account but this is typically not available to foreign-owned single-member LLCs at this time. A 147c EIN verification letter can only be requested by calling the IRS.
Can the IRS email me my 147c letter?
No. The IRS delivers 147c letters by fax or postal mail only. The IRS requires a physical fax machine.
Do I need an SSN or ITIN to request a 147c letter?
No. An authorized person, such as the LLC owner or a corporate officer, can request a 147c without any personal US tax ID. The IRS verifies you against the business details from your original SS-4 application.
How long does it take to get a 147c letter?
By fax, usually the same day, often while you’re still on the phone. By mail, expect 4 to 6 weeks, and longer for international addresses. If you’re calling from abroad, the IRS international line (+1 267-941-1000) is often faster to reach than the domestic toll-free number.
Will banks accept a 147c instead of the CP575?
Yes. Banks and payment processors treat the 147c as equivalent official proof of your EIN. If a bank insists on the “original CP575,” explain that the IRS doesn’t reissue it and the 147c is the official replacement.
What if the IRS can’t verify my identity on the call?
It usually means your details don’t match IRS records, often an outdated address or a misspelled name from the original filing. Locate your original SS-4, or file Form 8822-B to correct the record, then call again. If you’re stuck, this is something our team handles for clients regularly.
The EIN letter was the symptom. Make sure the rest of your US setup isn’t the disease.
Book a tax consultation with our team and get a clear picture of what your foreign-owned LLC actually needs to file, claim, and keep on record.