IRS Letter 147C (EIN Previously Assigned): How the IRS Says to Get One
Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned, is the IRS letter that confirms an EIN. When we checked on November 2, 2026, the IRS Employer identification number page said to call the business and specialty tax line to request it, and the IRS listed that line as 800-829-4933, M-F, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. taxpayer local time, with Alaska & Hawaii following Pacific time.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Reviewed November 2, 2026 · Methodology & sources
What the IRS calls it
The IRS Employer identification number page uses the title “Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned.” The IRS Business tax account page also names Letter 147C.
The IRS About Form SS-4 page and the Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) do not mention Letter 147C.
“An EIN is a federal tax ID number for businesses, tax-exempt organizations and other entities.”
“There are 3 ways to confirm your EIN:”
Three ways the IRS lists to confirm an EIN
| What the IRS page lists |
|---|
| Request an Entity transcript. See Get a business tax transcript. |
| Eligible Business Tax Account users can download a digital CP575, Employer Identification Number Verification Notice in BTA. It can be used as a substitute for the original CP575A-J notice series and Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned. |
| Call our business and specialty tax line. Request Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned. |
The IRS Business tax account page and the IRS Get a business tax transcript page add this text about the other two routes:
“New: EIN verification notice
You can now download your employer identification number (EIN) verification notice from your account. The new CP575 notice is a substitute for the CP575A-J notice series and Letter 147C. Use it to provide confirmation of your EIN. Sign in to get the notice under Tax Records.”
“Tax records – View tax transcripts, EIN verification letter and tax compliance reports.”
The IRS Business tax account page does not name the “EIN verification letter” item under Tax records as Letter 147C.
“Entity transcript
Verifies information in IRS records such as employer identification number (EIN), filing requirements and if the business is a single-member or multiple-member limited liability company (LLC).
[…]”
Phone number and hours
When we checked on November 2, 2026, the table showed three IRS passages that give 800-829-4933 for this line. It shows the words before the number, the number, and the words after it, copied from the two IRS pages.
| IRS text before the number | Number | IRS text after the number |
|---|---|---|
| Business and specialty tax line and EIN assignment | 800-829-4933 | Hours: M-F, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. taxpayer local time; Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific time |
| If you still can’t find it, call us at | 800-829-4933 | Monday to Friday 7 a.m. - 7p.m. local time. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii should follow Pacific time. |
| If you have more than one EIN and aren’t sure which to use, call the Business and Specialty Tax Line at | 800-829-4933 (TTY 800-829-4059 ) | and we’ll tell you which number to use. |
“For businesses, corporations, partnerships and trusts who need information and/or help regarding their business returns or business (BMF) accounts. Services cover employer identification numbers (EINs), 94x returns, 1041, 1065, 1120S, excise returns, estate and gift returns, as well as issues related to federal tax deposits.”
“Call 800-829-4933 to verify a number or to ask about the status of an application by mail.”
If the EIN is lost or forgotten
The IRS Employer identification number page lists these steps for a missing EIN, in this order:
| What the IRS page lists |
|---|
| Look for it on the notice we issued when you applied for an EIN |
| Contact the bank that has your business account |
| Check with agencies where you’ve applied for state or local licenses |
| Look on past business tax returns |
| If you still can’t find it, call us at 800-829-4933 Monday to Friday 7 a.m. - 7p.m. local time. Residents of Alaska and Hawaii should follow Pacific time. We’ll verify your identity and provide the number over the phone if you’re authorized to receive it. |
“A business entity should have only one EIN.”
What the IRS pages leave open
The IRS Employer identification number page and the IRS Business tax account page do not say how Letter 147C is delivered, how long it takes or what it costs.
FedRateCalc’s Form SS-4 page covers the application itself, and the Form 8822-B page covers reporting a change of responsible party or address.
Frequently asked questions
What is IRS Letter 147C?
When we checked on November 2, 2026, the IRS Employer identification number page used the name “Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned” and listed requesting it by calling the business and specialty tax line as one of 3 ways to confirm an EIN. The other two ways it listed were requesting an Entity transcript and, for eligible Business Tax Account users, downloading a digital CP575, Employer Identification Number Verification Notice.
What phone number and hours did the IRS list for requesting Letter 147C?
When we checked on November 2, 2026, the IRS Employer identification number page said to call the business and specialty tax line to request Letter 147C. The IRS Telephone assistance contacts for business customers page listed that line as 800-829-4933 with the hours “M-F, 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. taxpayer local time; Alaska & Hawaii follow Pacific time”, and the services as covering employer identification numbers (EINs), among other business accounts and returns.
Is Letter 147C the same as a CP575 notice?
When we checked on November 2, 2026, the IRS Employer identification number page said an eligible Business Tax Account user can download a digital CP575 and that it can be used as a substitute for the original CP575A-J notice series and Letter 147C, EIN Previously Assigned. The IRS Business tax account page also said the CP575 notice from the account is a substitute for the CP575A-J notice series and Letter 147C.
What else did the IRS list for confirming or finding an EIN?
The IRS Employer identification number page listed an Entity transcript as one way to confirm an EIN. For a lost or forgotten EIN it listed looking for it on the notice issued when the EIN was applied for, contacting the bank that has the business account, checking with agencies where state or local licenses were applied for, and looking on past business tax returns.
Does the IRS say a Letter 147C is mailed, faxed or free?
The IRS Employer identification number page and the IRS Business tax account page do not say how Letter 147C is delivered, how long it takes or what it costs.
Do the Form SS-4 documents use the name Letter 147C?
When we checked on November 2, 2026, the Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) said: “Call 800-829-4933 to verify a number or to ask about the status of an application by mail.” The IRS About Form SS-4 page and the Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) do not mention Letter 147C.