Lost Your CP 575? Get a Replacement by Fax
The CP 575 is issued once and never reissued. If you lost it, the IRS can fax you a Letter 147C replacement while you are on the phone. Here's how.
What Is the CP 575 Notice?
CP 575 is the official IRS notice confirming your Employer Identification Number (EIN) was assigned. It's generated automatically when the IRS approves your EIN application (online, by fax, phone, or mail). The notice includes your EIN, legal business name, address, entity type, and the federal tax forms you're required to file. It comes in several variants (CP 575A, 575B, 575E, 575G, 575K) depending on your entity type. All are functionally equivalent.
Why You Can't Get Another CP 575
The IRS issues the original CP 575 once and cannot duplicate or recreate it. If you applied online and chose to view the notice at the end of the session, that screen was your copy. The IRS does not mail one. An online filer who didn't choose that is mailed the notice after the EIN is assigned. If you faxed Form SS-4 with a return fax number, the IRS faxes back an EIN assignment letter. Without one, it mails the CP 575 to the address it has on file. If your CP 575 is lost or never arrives (common for international addresses), your replacement is Letter 147C.
The CP 575 vs 147C for Bank Accounts
Banks accept both CP 575 and Letter 147C as proof of EIN. They contain the same core information. Some banks also accept the online confirmation printout. Traditional banks (Chase, Wells Fargo) often insist on the IRS-letterhead document. If your bank won't accept a printout, a 147C received by fax is your fastest path forward.
How to Get Your Replacement (Letter 147C)
Call (800) 829-4933, verify your identity, and ask the agent to fax your Letter 147C. The agent faxes the letter during the call. You'll need a fax number ready, and FaxTerra provides one for $4.99/month. Getting your EIN by fax sets this route beside the one for a new EIN.
If Your Bank Can't Wait for the CP 575
If you applied online, the EIN is assigned instantly. The CP 575 follows by mail unless you chose to view it online at the end of the session. While that mailed copy is on its way, an agent may ask you to wait up to 30 days for it. If you chose to view the notice online and couldn't save it, no copy is coming. The IRS can fax a 147C right away. Save the online confirmation as a PDF during the session. If your bank can't wait, request a Letter 147C by fax. It replaces a missing CP 575, and banks accept it in place of one. To receive the 147C you need a fax number, and How to Receive a Fax from the IRS explains how to get one. For the broader IRS fax landscape, see How to Fax the IRS.
See how to send a fax with FaxTerra
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a duplicate CP 575?
Not of the original, which the IRS cannot duplicate or recreate. With full access to your business's IRS Business Tax Account, you can download a digital CP575 there. The IRS says it can be used in place of the original notice and Letter 147C. Business Tax Account is not yet open to every business, and an LLC that files on Schedule C cannot use it. Letter 147C contains the same information and is accepted by banks and institutions interchangeably.
What's the difference between CP 575A, 575B, 575E, 575G, and 575K?
The letter suffix indicates your entity type (A=general, B=classification notice, E=government/exempt, G=LLCs, K=nonprofits). All variants serve the same purpose and are accepted identically by banks and agencies.
I applied for my EIN online but didn't save the confirmation. Now what?
Call (800) 829-4933 and request a Letter 147C by fax, and the agent faxes it to you during the call. If a CP 575 is already on its way by mail, the agent may ask you to wait for it until 30 days after it was generated. You'll need a fax number to receive the 147C, so set up a FaxTerra number ($4.99/month) before calling.
My CP 575 never arrived in the mail. What happened?
Common for international addresses or if your address changed. The IRS only mails CP 575 to the address on file at the time of application. Your replacement is Letter 147C, which an agent can fax to you during a call.
Will my bank accept Letter 147C instead of CP 575?
Yes. Banks, lenders, and payroll providers accept 147C and CP 575 interchangeably. Both are official IRS documents confirming the same information.
Official Sources
Get a number that receives the reply
A dedicated US or Canada fax number with an inbox and email alerts, $4.99/month. Cancel anytime.
Only need to send? Send a fax free