Many states require an EIN letter to register for sales tax, but it is not uncommon for clients onboarding with Numeral to realize they’ve lost or misplaced their original letter. Fortunately, you can request an EIN verification letter, also known as a 147C letter, directly from the IRS.
💡 A 147C letter is issued by the IRS to confirm a company’s existing Employer Identification Number (EIN) when the original documentation has been lost. It is not a request for a new EIN but simply a confirmation of the one already assigned.
If you are changing EINs or business entities, see our article on EIN and Business Entity Changes.
Requesting an EIN verification letter from the IRS
Prepare for Your Call
Before contacting the IRS, gather essential business information and documents. The IRS will need to verify your identity and business entity, so having these details ready will save you time and frustration.
You can choose to receive your EIN Verification Letter by mail or fax, so be prepared with a mailing address or fax number. Important: If you’re using an e-fax service, do not mention it during your call, as IRS representatives may not agree to send the document via e-fax.
Call the IRS Business & Specialty Tax Line
Toll-free (U.S.): 1-800-829-4933
International: 267-941-1099
Hours: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM EST
Phone Menu Navigation: Press 1, then 1 again, then 3 to reach the appropriate department.
Request the 147C Letter
When you reach a representative, request an EIN verification (147C) letter. The IRS representative will:
Ask identity verification questions
Confirm whether you’d like to receive the letter by fax or mail
If you choose fax, they may ask if you are near a fax machine. As noted above, we suggest you do not mention if you are using an e-fax service.
Obtain the Letter (and ensure Numeral gets a copy)
Fax: If you don’t have a fax number, consider using a free trial of a digital fax service like Dropbox Fax.
Mail: This method can take several weeks.
Once you receive the document:
New clients: Upload a copy to the appropriate field in your Numeral Dashboard or send a copy to onboarding@numeralhq.com
Current clients updating records: Upload a copy to the appropriate field in your Numeral Dashboard or send a copy to help@numeralhq.com
💡Additional resources with more detailed guidance:
💬 Questions? If you need help with any of the steps outlined above, reach out to our team anytime via the messaging widget in your Numeral dashboard.