Lost Your EIN? How to Retrieve It from the IRS
You need your EIN for a bank application, a tax filing, or a new vendor form, and you cannot find it anywhere. Before you panic, know this: your EIN never expires and never changes.
The number is still on file with the IRS and in several places you have already used it. You just need to know where to look.
This guide walks through every reliable way to retrieve a lost EIN, from the fastest checks to the official IRS phone line.
Start With the Places You Have Already Used It
Most lost EINs are recovered without ever contacting the IRS. Work through these sources first, because they are faster than sitting on hold.
Your IRS Confirmation Letter
When the IRS issued your EIN, it sent a confirmation letter called the CP 575. If you applied online, you also had the chance to print it immediately.
This letter shows your nine digit EIN prominently. Check your business files, your email, and anywhere you store formation documents.
The IRS issues the original CP 575 only once, so if you find it, scan it and store a digital backup this time.
Previously Filed Tax Returns
Your EIN appears at the top of every business tax return you have filed. For a corporation that is Form 1120, for a partnership Form 1065, and for payroll Form 941.
Even a Schedule C attached to your personal return will show the EIN if you entered one. Pull your most recent filing and check the header.
Your Bank and Financial Accounts
If you used your EIN to open a business bank account, the bank has it on file. Call your banker or check your account documents and statements.
Payment processors like Stripe and PayPal also store your EIN under business or tax settings. Log in and look before you call anyone.
State and Local License Files
Any state or local license application where you listed the EIN is another source. Contact the agency that issued the license and ask for the number from your file.
Your accountant or bookkeeper may also have it. If someone has ever filed taxes or payroll for the business, they almost certainly recorded the EIN.
Call the IRS Business Tax Line
If the paper trail comes up empty, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday.
An assistor will ask for identifying information to verify that you are authorized to receive the number. Only certain people qualify, typically an owner, officer, or other responsible party listed on IRS records.
Once verified, the assistor can give you the EIN over the phone. Mondays tend to have the longest hold times, so calling midweek often saves you a wait.
Ask for the 147C Letter
Sometimes you need more than the number itself. Banks and investors often want official written proof, and a verbal confirmation will not satisfy them.
During your IRS call, ask specifically for a 147C letter, also called the EIN Verification Letter. This is the official replacement for the original CP 575.
The IRS can fax the 147C to you during the call if you have a fax number ready, or mail it to your address on file. Mailed letters take one to two weeks to arrive.
Be direct about needing the letter. The assistor will not always offer it unless you ask. Requesting the 147C by name is the single most useful sentence in the entire call.
Do Not Apply for a New EIN
A lost EIN is never a reason to apply for another one. Your business gets exactly one EIN, and a duplicate creates confusion across IRS records.
Duplicate EINs can trigger mismatched filings, delayed refunds, and notices you then have to untangle. Retrieval is always the right move, not reapplication.
The only time a new EIN is appropriate is when the business itself has fundamentally changed, such as a new entity type or new ownership structure. A misplaced letter does not qualify.
If you are unsure how the application process works in the first place, our walkthrough of how to get an EIN for your LLC explains what the IRS sends you and when.
Keep Your Records Current
One reason IRS phone verification goes smoothly is having matching records. If you have moved or changed your responsible party, update the IRS with Form 8822-B.
The IRS publishes guidance on Form 8822-B for reporting a change of address or responsible party. A change of responsible party must be reported within 60 days.
Current records also help if you ever need to prove your identity quickly on a call. It is a small administrative habit that pays off exactly when you are stressed.
Paper versus digital is worth a deliberate choice. A fireproof file box protects originals, while encrypted cloud storage protects against loss and theft. Use both for anything as important as a tax ID confirmation.
The IRS employer ID numbers page is the official starting point for anything EIN related, including retrieval and record updates.
When Someone Else Lost It
Sometimes the EIN is not lost by you but by someone who handled it for you. Accountants retire, bookkeepers change software, and business partners part ways.
Start by asking everyone who has ever touched your filings. A former accountant’s files, a payroll provider’s portal, or an old formation service’s dashboard often holds the number.
If a paid service obtained the EIN for you, check whether they kept a copy. Our comparison of free versus paid EIN services notes that reputable providers store your confirmation documents, while bargain services sometimes do not.
When a partnership dissolves, any partner who signed tax returns can request the number from the IRS. The authorization follows the person, not just the business name.
Store It Properly This Time
Retrieving an EIN once is a lesson. Retrieving it twice is a systems failure. A few simple habits prevent a repeat.
Save a scanned copy of the CP 575 or 147C letter in at least two places: your business document folder and a secure cloud backup. Paper alone is how numbers get lost.
Add the EIN to your password manager’s secure notes. It is sensitive enough to protect and important enough to need quickly.
Include the EIN in your business continuity file alongside formation documents, the operating agreement, and bank details. If something happens to you, the person winding up the business will need it.
Finally, keep a simple log of where you have used the number: bank, payroll provider, state licenses. Next time you need it, the log tells you exactly where to look first. For reference on normal processing speeds when you do need IRS action, see how long it takes to get an EIN, and if you are wondering whether you even needed one, our piece on EINs for single-member LLCs covers the requirements.
Watch: How to Look Up a Lost EIN
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up my EIN online?
There is no public IRS lookup tool for EINs. Your options are your own records, your bank, your tax filings, or a phone call to the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933.
What is the difference between the CP 575 and the 147C?
The CP 575 is the original confirmation letter the IRS sends when it issues your EIN. The 147C is the verification letter the IRS sends later as a replacement. Both serve as official proof of your EIN.
Who is allowed to request the EIN from the IRS?
Only an authorized person, such as an owner, corporate officer, partner, or other responsible party on IRS records. The assistor will verify your identity before releasing the number.
How long does it take to get the 147C letter?
If faxed during your call, you can have it the same day. By mail, expect one to two weeks to your address on file.
What if the IRS has my old address on file?
Update it with Form 8822-B before or during your call. The 147C can only go to the address the IRS has on record, so an outdated address means a delayed letter.
