What Is an IRS CP 575B Notice and What Should I Do?
Your IRS CP 575B notice confirms your Employer Identification Number (EIN), a foundational element for your business's financial and legal operations.
Receiving a notice from the IRS can be unsettling, but the CP 575B is a confirmation document, not a cause for alarm. This notice is the official communication from the Internal Revenue Service that assigns a new Employer Identification Number (EIN) to a business entity. It serves as the original, authoritative proof of a business’s unique nine-digit federal tax ID. This number is fundamental to nearly all of your business’s financial and tax-related activities.
Understanding Your CP 575B Notice
The CP 575B notice is generated after you successfully apply for an EIN, either through the online portal or by submitting Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number. This document contains the foundational details the IRS has on file for your business. When you review the notice, you will find your officially registered business name, mailing address, and the newly assigned EIN. The notice may also list the specific federal tax forms the IRS anticipates your business will need to file.
This notice serves an important purpose: it is the IRS’s only official paper confirmation of your new EIN. The IRS does not re-issue this specific document, making the original copy a valuable record. The information on the CP 575B establishes the identity of your business for all subsequent federal tax filings, confirming the legal name and number that must be used consistently.
Safeguarding and Using Your EIN Information
Upon receiving your CP 575B notice, your immediate action should be to secure the document. Treat this notice as a permanent business record, storing it alongside other foundational paperwork like your articles of incorporation or business licenses. A secure physical or digital copy is necessary, as you will need to reference this information throughout the life of your business.
The EIN confirmed on your CP 575B is required for several core business operations. You will be required to provide the EIN when opening a business bank account, as financial institutions use it to verify the business’s identity. This number is also required for filing all federal tax returns, including employment and annual income tax returns, and for setting up payroll if you hire employees.
How to Recover Your EIN Information
If you misplace your original CP 575B notice, first check other business documents where the number may have been recorded. Your EIN can often be found on previously filed federal tax returns, business bank account statements, or applications for various business licenses. These existing records can provide you with the number itself, which is often sufficient for many business needs.
Should you need official verification of your EIN for a loan application or another formal purpose, you must contact the IRS directly. The IRS does not send a replacement CP 575B, but you can request an EIN Verification Letter, known as a 147C Letter. To do this, you must call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line, which operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in your local time zone, Monday through Friday.
When you call, you must be an authorized person for the business, such as a corporate officer, partner, or the sole proprietor, and be prepared to answer security questions to verify your identity. The IRS representative will ask for details like the official business name, the business address on file, and your title. Once your identity is confirmed, you can request that the 147C letter be sent to you by mail or fax.