CP 575 - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IRS CP 575 (EIN Confirmation Letter)?
The IRS Notice Letter CP 575 is the official confirmation letter the IRS sends when they issue your Employer Identification Number (EIN). It confirms your company’s legal name and the EIN assigned to your business.
Why is the CP 575 sometimes required?
State and local tax agencies often need proof of your business’s EIN and legal name to process registrations, resolve record mismatches, or correct account details. The CP 575 is the clearest, most universally recognized form of that proof.
During tax account registrations (for example, state withholding or unemployment), agencies may ask for your CP 575—or an equivalent IRS-issued document—to verify that the EIN and legal name on the application match IRS records. Without it, some agencies will delay or reject the registration until documentation is received.
Where to find your CP 575 (and what to do if it’s lost)
The CP 575 is sent by the IRS when your EIN is first issued. Check your records or the email/mail channel you used during the EIN application.
If you complete the application online, the IRS automatically sends you the EIN Confirmation Letter (CP-575) digitally, which you can download at your convenience.
If you apply by mail or fax, you’ll receive the CP-575 confirmation letter by mail, which can take a while — it usually arrives within four to six weeks of your EIN application.
If you can’t locate it, request an IRS Letter 147C (an EIN verification letter) as a substitute; many agencies accept the 147C in place of a CP 575.
Acceptable alternatives if you don’t have your CP 575
While the CP 575 is often strictly required, certain agencies will sometimes accept other IRS-issued documents that clearly show your business’s legal name and full, preprinted EIN.
Common alternatives include:
IRS Letter 147C (EIN verification letter).
Form SS-4 (the EIN application), if it is the stamped/returned version from the IRS. Acceptance varies by agency.
Other IRS notices/correspondence that list your legal name and full, preprinted EIN.
Notes:
Agencies will not accept documentation consisting of information the business itself is providing, such as a tax return. Instead the document has to be provided to the business.
Agencies generally will not accept documents that only show a partial EIN or that are not clearly issued by the IRS.
Quality matters—ensure the legal name and full EIN are clearly visible on the document you provide.