Lost Your EIN? How to Retrieve It From the IRS Fast

Key Takeaways

• You can often find your EIN on prior tax filings (like Form 941, Form 940, or Form 1120/1065) and on bank or payroll records without calling the IRS.
• If you must contact the IRS, be prepared to verify identity and business details; EIN retrieval is limited to authorized parties.
• If your EIN was issued recently, your IRS EIN confirmation notice (CP 575) is the fastest written proof to keep on file.
• When you can’t locate the EIN quickly, you can still keep operations moving by coordinating with your bank, payroll provider, and state agencies using documentation you already have.

Who This Guide Is For: Business owners, LLC members, corporate officers, nonprofit organizers, and payroll administrators who have an existing EIN but can’t find it and need to retrieve it quickly to file taxes, run payroll, open accounts, or complete registrations.

Start With the Fastest Checks (No Waiting on the IRS)

Most “lost EIN” situations aren’t truly lost—your number is usually sitting on a document you already have. Before you spend time on calls or written requests, do these checks in order.

1) Search your most common EIN locations

• Prior federal tax returns: Look at the header of filed returns (examples include Form 1120, Form 1120-S, Form 1065, or Form 990).
• Employment tax forms: If you run payroll, check Form 941 (quarterly) or Form 940 (annual FUTA).
• IRS EIN confirmation: Your EIN assignment notice is commonly called CP 575. Many businesses keep it with formation paperwork.
• Bank and lending paperwork: Account opening packets, merchant services agreements, or loan applications often list the EIN.
• Payroll provider and benefits files: Set-up documents for payroll, retirement plans, or health benefits typically require the EIN.

2) Check the systems that “remember” your EIN

If you don’t have paper copies, your EIN may still appear in:

• Accounting software company profile settings
• Payroll portal employer profile or tax setup section
• PDF archives in your email (search terms: “EIN,” “CP 575,” “941,” “1120,” “1065”)

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When You Need Proof: Retrieve or Recreate EIN Documentation

Sometimes you don’t just need the number—you need proof of the number (for a bank, payroll onboarding, or a state registration). This section focuses on getting something you can file, save, and reuse.

Use your EIN confirmation notice (CP 575) if you have it

The EIN assignment notice (CP 575) is a commonly accepted proof document. If you find it, scan and store it in at least two places (for example, encrypted cloud storage plus a local drive) so you can access it quickly when a bank or vendor asks.

Request an EIN Verification Letter (147C) when CP 575 isn’t available

If you can’t locate your CP 575, the IRS can issue an EIN Verification Letter known as “147C”. This letter is frequently used when a bank requires verification and you don’t have the original EIN notice on hand.

What you’ll need before requesting 147C

• Legal business name and any “doing business as” name
• Business address on IRS records
• Name and title of an authorized person (owner, partner, corporate officer, or someone with valid authorization)
• Your business entity type (LLC, corporation, partnership, nonprofit, sole proprietor)

How to store the 147C once you get it

• Save as a PDF with a consistent naming pattern (example: “EIN-Verification-147C-YYYY-MM-DD.pdf”).
• Attach it to your internal compliance folder next to your formation documents and payroll setup records.
• Use it as your go-to proof for banks and processors going forward.

If You Must Contact the IRS: Be Ready to Verify Ownership

When your internal search comes up empty, IRS contact is typically the next step. The key to speed is preparation—have consistent business details ready and ensure the caller is an authorized party.

Who can retrieve the EIN from the IRS

The IRS generally releases EIN information only to authorized individuals connected to the business, such as:

• Owners/sole proprietors
• Partners in a partnership
• Corporate officers for corporations
• Trustees for trusts
• Authorized representatives with proper authorization documentation (commonly handled through Form 2848)

What to do if you’re not listed as an authorized party

If a bookkeeper, new employee, or outside consultant is trying to retrieve the EIN, retrieval can stall. The fastest fix is to have an owner/officer handle it directly or set up authorization using Form 2848 so the representative can speak with the IRS about the account.

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Keep Your Business Moving While You Track the EIN

Even if you can’t put your hands on the EIN today, you can reduce downtime by lining up what most institutions accept while you retrieve the official number.

For payroll and federal filings

• Prior payroll filings: If you’ve filed Form 941, the EIN is printed on it—use that copy for internal confirmation.
• Quarterly planning: Payroll taxes are typically reported on a quarterly cycle via Form 941, so retrieving your EIN before the next quarter-end helps avoid last-minute filing issues.

For banking, merchant accounts, and lenders

• Use existing paperwork: Many banks accept prior returns showing the EIN (like Form 1120/1065) while they wait for a verification letter.
• Match the IRS-record address: If your business address changed and your bank uses a different address, that mismatch can slow verification—keep documentation aligned.

For state registrations (sales tax, withholding, and employer accounts)

States frequently ask for your EIN when you apply for sales tax or payroll-related accounts. If you’re registering in a state for the first time, gathering your EIN early prevents application delays with the state agency that administers tax accounts (often a Department of Revenue or Taxation).

Examples of state-level registrations that commonly require an EIN

• Sales and use tax permit
• State employer withholding account
• Unemployment insurance employer account

Quick comparison: Where your EIN is most likely to be found

What to Do Next (Checklist)

• Search your last filed federal returns for the EIN (Form 1120/1120-S/1065/990).
• Check payroll filings (Form 941 quarterly or Form 940 annually) and your payroll provider’s employer profile.
• Locate and save your CP 575 EIN assignment notice; scan it and store it securely.
• If CP 575 is missing and you need proof, prepare to request a 147C EIN verification letter.
• Confirm your legal business name and IRS-record address match what your bank, payroll provider, and state registrations are using.
• Create a “compliance folder” that includes CP 575/147C, formation docs, and your most recent filed tax return.

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FAQ: Retrieving a Lost EIN (First-Time Questions)

I’m a first-time business owner—where should I look for my EIN before contacting the IRS?