You successfully formed your US LLC. You received your EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS. You are ready to open a Mercury bank account or activate your Stripe payments.
Then you hit a wall.
The bank rejects your application. They claim they cannot verify your business information. They ask for a “147C Letter.”
If you are looking through your files and panicking because you have never heard of this document, do not worry. You are not alone.
Here is everything you need to know about the EIN Verification Letter (147C) and the exact steps to get one.
The Difference Between CP-575 and 147C
To understand the 147C, you first need to understand the CP-575.
The CP-575: This is the “golden ticket.” It is the original confirmation letter the IRS mails (or faxes) to you immediately after they assign your EIN. The IRS issues this document only once. If you lose it, it is gone forever.
The 147C Letter: This is the replacement. Since the IRS will never re-issue a CP-575, they offer the 147C Letter as an official substitute. It serves the exact same legal purpose. It proves that your EIN belongs to your LLC.
Key Takeaway: The CP-575 is your birth certificate. The 147C is your certified copy. Both are legally identical for banking purposes.
Why Do Banks and Stripe Ask for It?
In 2026, financial institutions are under strict “Know Your Customer” (KYC) regulations. They must verify that your business name matches your tax ID exactly.
Sometimes, their database does not sync with the IRS database immediately. This is common for new LLCs. If you try to open a bank account two days after getting your EIN, the bank might not see you in the system yet.
They will ask for a 147C Letter to manually verify your existence.
Additionally, if you lost your original CP-575 or if the scan quality is poor, platforms like Amazon or Stripe will demand a fresh 147C to ensure they are compliant with US tax laws.
How to Get Your 147C Letter (Step-by-Step)
Unlike the EIN application itself, you cannot request a 147C Letter online. There is no “download” button.
You must contact the IRS directly. Here is the process.
1. Prepare Your Information
Before you pick up the phone, have all your business and personal documents on hand. The IRS agent needs to verify your identity, and the specific questions they ask can change depending on the flow of the conversation.
At a minimum, you must have:
- Your EIN number.
- The exact name of your LLC.
- The business address on file.
- The name of the responsible party (usually you).
- Your Passport: The agent will often ask for specific identification details from your passport to confirm you are the authorized owner.
Pro Tip: Since the agent may ask for additional details to verify your account, keep your Articles of Organization and any other formation documents in front of you during the call.
2. Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line
You need to call 1-800-829-4933. The hours of operation are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday.
Recommendation: Monday mornings are the busiest times. Try calling later in the week or in the late afternoon to minimize your wait time.
3. Navigate the Phone Tree
The IRS phone menu changes frequently. Generally, you want to select the options for “Employer Identification Numbers” and then “Business Inquiries.” You eventually need to speak to a live human agent.
4. Choose Your Delivery Method: Mail vs. Fax
Once you verify your identity with the agent, you have two options for receiving the letter.
- Option A (Mail): The IRS can mail the document to the address on record. For international founders, this is slow. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for the letter to arrive in Europe or Asia.
- Option B (Fax): The IRS can fax the document immediately while you are on the phone. However, you must have a private, secure fax line ready to receive the transmission. They will not email the document under any circumstances.
Final Thoughts: Keep Your Documents Safe
The process of retrieving a 147C Letter is tedious. It involves long hold times, international calling fees, and the logistical headache of securing a fax line.
The best strategy is to never lose your original CP-575. Store it in a secure digital drive immediately upon receipt. But if you do lose it, the 147C is your only option.
Get Your 147C Letter with Clemta: Don’t have a fax machine? Don’t want to spend hours on hold with the IRS? Clemta can handle this entire process for you. We communicate with the IRS and retrieve your 147C Letter directly, ensuring you have the documents you need to open your bank account without the hassle.
