CP575 Notice: What It Is and What to Do When It Arrives

The CP575 letter confirms your assigned Employer Identification Number (EIN) by the IRS. This letter is important because when you apply for an EIN, it is the official proof that you have been assigned an EIN. Since the IRS does not resend this letter, it is important to keep your CP575 letter.

The most important thing to know about the CP575 letter is that it means the IRS assigned your business an EIN. It is not an invoice, an audit letter, or a letter requesting additional information. It is simply a confirmation letter.

You will need your CP575 letter when applying for business banking accounts, when completing payroll, and when hiring accountants. If you lose this letter, the IRS does not send a duplicate.

What Does the CP575 Letter Actually Contain?

Your CP575 letter includes your EIN and the business name as it appears on your IRS registration. There is information about your business entity type, your business address, and the tax filing requirements for your business and the IRS.

Your tax filing requirements letter will be different if you are a single-member LLC filing as a disregarded entity. In that case, your tax filing requirement will be Form 1040 with an attachment of Schedule C. If you are an LLC filing as a corporation, your tax filing requirement will be Form 1120.

Attention to detail is key with IRS forms. If your CP575 lists your entity or business name incorrectly, you need to correct it. Otherwise, you run the risk of your business name conflicting with your bank or state filings. One of the most common issues founders come to us with when trying to open a business bank account is a name discrepancy between your business entity name with the IRS, your state business registration, and your business bank account.

How Long Does It Take to Receive the CP575?

When you request an EIN on the IRS website, you get your EIN instantly. The CP575 is sent to you and generally arrives four to five weeks later.

If you submit your request by fax (Form SS-4), your EIN will be issued within 4 business days, and the CP575 will be sent to you shortly. For postal requests, expect a four- to five-week processing time, plus additional weeks for your CP575 to arrive.

If you are an international applicant who is unable to use the online request, your options are to call the IRS or submit Form SS-4 by fax. If you use the phone option, you will receive your EIN instantly. The CP575 will still get sent to the default address in the IRS system, so typically, non-resident founders will need a registered agent or a U.S. mailing address in their application.

What If You Never Received Your CP575?

This is more common than it should be. Founders put the wrong address, or the mail gets lost. Some founders do not update the IRS with a U.S. address, and the letter gets sent somewhere unusable.

The CP575 cannot be requested again from the IRS. Instead, you may request an EIN verification letter. This letter is known as the 147C. You can call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line at 1-800-829-4933 to request this letter. The 147C serves a purpose similar to that of the CP575 and will be accepted by most institutions.

Expect to spend 30 to 60 minutes on the phone waiting to speak to someone. When you do get a chance to speak with someone, they will verify your identity and send you the 147C by mail or fax. Faxing will be the fastest option. If you request them to send it by fax, you will get it the same day.

Can You Use Your EIN Before the CP575 Arrives?

Yes. Once the IRS issues your EIN, you can use it. There is no reason to wait for the CP575 to open a business bank account, register with state agencies, or even file a business tax return.

What the CP575 provides is documentation. The IRS online application offers a confirmation screen that some banks will accept as temporary documentation. Other banks will require either the CP575 or the 147C. To be safe, check with your bank.

Common Mistakes Founders Make With the CP575

Throwing it away. The most common mistake is thinking IRS mail is unimportant. The CP575 comes in a plain envelope, and it is easy to miss if someone else is collecting your mail or you are using a registered agent. Make sure you or your registered agent has received it, and store it in a safe place.

Not inspecting the business name. The name on the CP575 shows what the IRS has on record from your Form SS-4. If there was a mistake on the application, or if the name of your LLC is different from what you put on the form, the IRS records it as submitted. The only way to fix it is to call the IRS, and it can take a while.

Seeing it as your only proof of EIN. The CP575 is not the only document that has your EIN. Your EIN is also on your tax returns, employment documents, and the IRS 147C letter. If the CP575 is lost, you have to call the IRS to get a replacement, but your EIN is not lost.

Not saving a digital copy. Scan it and store it safely. Your accountant, your payroll provider, or a bank that you may do business with in the future may ask for it in the years to come.

CP575 for Non-Resident Founders

Non-resident founders face challenges applying for an EIN. The IRS sends the CP575 to the address listed in the application. If that address is your registered agent’s address, they will receive the letter and are supposed to send it to you.

We often apply for EINs for non-resident clients. The delivery of the CP575 is often the reason for the delay most clients face. If your registered agent receives it and does not have a protocol for forwarding, it may take a while for it to reach you. When you use a registered agent for your business formation, be sure to ask them how they handle correspondence from the IRS.

What to Do If Your CP575 Shows the Wrong Information

You should not ignore errors in the business name, entity type, or address.

For an incorrect business name, write a letter to the IRS explaining the error, include a copy of the CP575 you received, and send it to the address listed on the letter. The IRS does not provide an online portal for corrections.

For an incorrect entity type, the process is more complex. If you want your business to be taxed as an S corporation but the entity type on the CP575 reflects a different classification, you may need to file either Form 8832 (Entity Classification Election) or Form 2553 (S Corporation Election) to have your taxes reflect your intentions. The S corporation election must generally be filed within 75 days of business formation, or by March 15 for the prior tax year.

FAQ

Is the CP575 an EIN letter?

The CP575 confirms your EIN assignment from the IRS, so yes, the CP575 is an EIN letter. Some people use that phrase as shorthand, but the correct name for the document is CP575.

Can I request a CP575 from the IRS?

No. The IRS will not issue the CP575 again. If you need to show proof of your EIN, call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line and request a 147C letter instead.

How long should I hold on to my CP575?

Permanently. The CP575 is the original documentation of your EIN assignment. Keep a hard copy and a digital copy.

Does every business get a CP575?

Most businesses that apply for an EIN will get a CP575, provided they give a U.S. return address and the letter is not undeliverable. Sole proprietors with no employees who use their Social Security Number for their tax obligations likely will not need an EIN and thus will not have a CP575.

What is the difference between the CP575 and the 147C letter?

Both documents confirm the assignment of an EIN. The CP575 is the first letter sent to you upon assignment. The 147C is a letter you request for verification, typically because the CP575 is no longer in your possession. Both letters are typically accepted by banks and other institutions.

Can a non-resident founder get a 147C?

Yes. As long as they are a responsible party on the EIN application, they can request one. In some cases, the IRS can fax it to an international fax number.

If you applied for an EIN and are still waiting on your CP575, or if you are a non-resident founder, we can help with your Form SS-4 and EIN delivery. EasyFiling manages EIN applications for founders in 175+ countries. The service includes U.S. mailing address handling, confirmation letter forwarding, and more.

Apply for your EIN through EasyFiling