The CP-575 is a notice from the Internal Revenue Service confirming that you have been granted an EIN (Employer Identification Number). The EIN is sometimes also referred to as FEIN, or Federal Employer Identification Number. The CP-575 letter (sometimes also called an EIN confirmation letter) includes important tax information about your small business, including your:
- EIN, the nine-digit tax ID number used for filing your federal payroll taxes
- Business name
- Business’s official filing address
- Federal tax forms your company is required to file (such as Form 941, Form 940, and Form 1120 in the example below)
Want to watch a video on the CP-575? Go to the bottom of this post. Otherwise, read on.
Why do I need an IRS Form CP-575?
Form CP-575 is an important document for most business owners because it serves as proof of all the things listed above. You’ll often need it to open business bank accounts and credit cards, get payroll set up with your payroll provider, secure a Medicare provider, and communicate with certain government agencies.
Most of the time, just providing your EIN will be enough, but some organizations may require submission of the document as proof that the ID number is indeed yours. So once you’ve got your EIN confirmation letter, be sure to keep it in a safe place.
However, most sole proprietors won’t need an EIN—and therefore, a CP-575—because they use their Social Security number in place of an EIN for their business operations and income tax returns.
How do I get a CP-575 letter?
First, you’ll need to apply for an EIN using Form SS-4. Once you’ve been approved, the IRS will mail a paper CP-575 letter to the address listed on your application within about four to six weeks. Here’s a sample CP-575:
What if I can’t find my CP-575 letter?
Don’t panic. While the IRS won’t issue a new one, you can request the CP-575’s twin sister, the EIN verification letter known as a 147-C.
Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line toll-free at 1-800-829-4933 Monday through Friday between 7:00AM and 7:00PM local time, and ask the representative for a 147-C letter. Note that they will ask you a few questions to verify your identity before fulfilling your request.
For security reasons, the IRS will only send this letter to the owner of the business or approved agent via mail or fax. They will not send it to you over email. If you decide to have your 147-C letter sent by mail, you’ll receive it at the address listed on file for your business in about four to six weeks. If you choose the fax option, the IRS agent will fax you your document while you’re on the phone with them.
Once you receive your 147-C, you can use this new form as alternative proof of your businesses’ filing address, name, and EIN.
Here’s a sample 147-C letter:
On the other hand, if you can’t remember your EIN but aren’t required to present a CP-575, the IRS offers some ways to recover your number on the official website.
In an ideal world, you’ll never have to worry about misplacing or losing an important document for your business. But we all know that, in the real world, things happen. Luckily, there’s still a way to recover important details like your EIN so you’ll never miss a beat.