It is a sinking feeling. You are finally ready to open your US business bank account or sign a major contract, and the form asks for your “Employer Identification Number (EIN).”
You search your email. You check your downloads folder. Nothing.
For a non-resident founder, losing your EIN feels like losing your passport. Without it, your US company is effectively frozen. You cannot file taxes, you cannot pay vendors, and you certainly cannot pass Stripe’s identity verification.
The good news is that your EIN is never truly “lost.” It is permanently assigned to your company. You just need to find where it is hiding.
Here is exactly how to handle this process in 2026.
1. The “CP 575” Letter (Check This First)
When your EIN was first approved, the IRS sent you a formal confirmation letter. This is the “birth certificate” of your tax ID.
- The Document Name: Notice CP 575.
- Where to Look: If you used a formation service like Clemta, this document is likely saved in your user dashboard. If you applied via fax yourself, it was faxed back to the number you provided on the SS-4 form.
- Physical Mail: If you applied by mail, the IRS sent this to the mailing address you listed on your application.
2. Check Your Financial Ecosystem
If you cannot find the official IRS letter, check the other systems where you have already used the number. Your EIN is often saved in the settings of financial platforms you use daily.
- Bank Accounts: If you already opened a Mercury or Brex account, your EIN is listed in your account statements or legal details section.
- Payment Processors: Log into Stripe or PayPal. Navigate to Settings > Tax Details or Business Information. Your EIN is often visible there.
- Prior Tax Returns: If you have filed a US tax return (Form 1120 or 5472) in previous years, your EIN is listed in Box B at the top of the first page.
3. Contact the IRS
If you cannot find the number digitally, your only remaining option is to contact the IRS directly.
Non-residents generally cannot use the automated online tools available to US residents. Instead, you must call the IRS International Business line.
- The Security Check: You must prove you are an “authorized person” (e.g. the Member or Manager listed on the original formation documents). The agent will ask specific security questions about your filing history and formation date before releasing any information.
- The Outcome: If verified, the agent can provide the number over the phone or fax you a verification letter.
4. Ask for the “147C Letter”
Here is a critical detail: The IRS will not send you another copy of the original CP 575 letter. That document is generated only once by the computer system.
If you need a physical document to show a bank or investor, you must ask the IRS agent for a “147C Letter”.
- What it is: The 147C Letter (or “EIN Verification Letter”) is the official replacement. It serves the exact same legal purpose as the CP 575.
- How to get it: You must explicitly request this document during your call.
- Delivery: If you have a secure digital fax, they can sometimes transmit it immediately. Otherwise, it is mailed to your address on file, which can take weeks to arrive internationally.
Final Thoughts: Centralize Your Documents
Losing your EIN is a stressful administrative hurdle that wastes valuable time. The best defense is a centralized compliance dashboard.
Never Lose a Document Again with Clemta: When you form your company with Clemta, we automatically store your critical documents, including your EIN Letter, Articles of Organization, and Operating Agreement, in your secure cloud dashboard. You can access them instantly, from anywhere in the world, whenever a bank or partner asks.
