The CP 575 and the 147C letter are the two IRS documents that prove your Employer Identification Number (EIN) and the exact legal name the IRS has on file for it. For 10DLC registration, that legal name is the single most important field you enter. If the name you submit for your Brand does not match the IRS record character for character, automated verification can fail and your Brand never reaches the point where a Campaign can be approved. MyTCRPlus is an independent 10DLC compliance diagnostic platform: it is not a CSP, does not send SMS, and is not affiliated with The Campaign Registry or the IRS.
Short answer: The CP 575 is the notice the IRS issues when it first assigns your EIN. The 147C letter ("EIN Previously Assigned") is the replacement you request later if you cannot find the CP 575. Eligible Business Tax Account users can also download a digital CP 575 that the IRS says can substitute for the original notice and for Letter 147C. Use whichever you have to copy your legal name and EIN exactly into your 10DLC Brand registration.
Why EIN Letters Matter for 10DLC
When your Campaign Service Provider (CSP) registers your Brand with The Campaign Registry (TCR), the Brand record includes your legal company name, EIN, entity type, address and website. Automated identity checks compare those fields against tax and business registry data. A mismatch is one of the most common reasons a Brand ends up unverified, and an unverified Brand cannot register a standard Campaign.
Typical mismatches look trivial but fail anyway:
- Submitting your trade name ("Oak Dental") when the IRS record says "Oak Family Dentistry PLLC".
- Dropping or changing the entity suffix ("LLC" vs "L.L.C." vs "Limited Liability Company").
- Using an old legal name after a name change that was never updated with the IRS.
- Typing the EIN of a parent company, a franchisor, or a previous entity.
- Registering a sole proprietor's EIN with the business trade name instead of the individual's legal name.
The fix in every case is the same: read the name from your IRS letter and copy it exactly. See 10DLC EIN requirements for how the EIN fits into the full Brand record, and TCR brand registration for every field.
CP 575 vs 147C Letter at a Glance
| CP 575 | Letter 147C | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | EIN assignment notice issued when the IRS assigns your EIN | "EIN Previously Assigned" letter confirming an existing EIN |
| When you get it | Once, at the time of assignment (online applicants can save it at the end of the application) | Any time later, on request |
| How to get it | Saved at application; eligible Business Tax Account users can download a digital CP 575 | Call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line and request it |
| What it shows | EIN, legal name, and the address on record at assignment | EIN and the legal name on IRS records at the time of the letter |
| Best use for 10DLC | Proof of EIN and legal name if nothing has changed since assignment | Proof of current IRS legal name, especially after a name change |
| Accepted by CSPs | Generally yes, when the name matches your submission | Generally yes; often preferred when the CP 575 is lost or out of date |
The IRS lists three ways to confirm an EIN: request an entity transcript, download the digital CP 575 (Employer Identification Number Verification Notice) in your Business Tax Account if eligible, or call the Business and Specialty Tax Line to request Letter 147C. See the IRS Employer Identification Number page for current options.
What the CP 575 Is
The CP 575 is the confirmation notice the IRS generates when it assigns a new EIN. If you applied online, you were offered the notice at the end of the application; if you applied by fax or mail, it arrived by fax or post. The IRS issues the original CP 575 only once. The notice belongs to a series of variants that differ by entity type, which is why you may see a letter suffix after "CP575".
The CP 575 shows the EIN and the legal name exactly as the IRS recorded it. That makes it the best document to copy from, as long as nothing has changed since it was issued. If your business has changed its legal name, converted entity type, or changed its responsible party, the CP 575 may no longer reflect what the IRS has on file today.
What the 147C Letter Is
Letter 147C, "EIN Previously Assigned", is the IRS's confirmation of an existing EIN. You request it when you cannot find your CP 575 or need a current statement of the name the IRS holds. Because it reflects the IRS record at the time it is issued, it is often the better document after a name change.
To request it, call the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line (800-829-4933, weekdays). The IRS verifies that you are an authorized person, such as the owner, an officer or the responsible party, and can fax or mail the letter. Faxed letters arrive the same day in many cases; mailed letters take longer. Have your EIN, legal name and mailing address ready when you call.
Digital CP 575 in the Business Tax Account
The IRS now lets eligible Business Tax Account (BTA) users download a digital CP 575, titled "Employer Identification Number Verification Notice". According to the IRS, it can be used as a substitute for the original CP 575 series and for Letter 147C. If you already have BTA access, this is usually the fastest route to a clean document for your CSP.
Which Letter Should You Use for 10DLC?
- You have the original CP 575 and nothing has changed. Use it.
- You lost the CP 575. Download the digital CP 575 from your Business Tax Account if you are eligible, or request Letter 147C.
- You changed your legal name since the EIN was assigned. Request a 147C or download a current digital notice so you submit the name the IRS holds now. If the IRS still shows the old name, update it with the IRS first; otherwise your registration will keep failing.
- Your CSP asks for an EIN document during an appeal. Send the document whose name matches your submission exactly.
How to Copy Your Legal Name into a 10DLC Registration
- Copy the name exactly: spelling, punctuation, spacing, entity suffix and capitalization pattern as shown.
- Do not add your DBA to the legal name field. Use the separate DBA or brand name field your CSP provides.
- Enter the EIN with or without the hyphen as your CSP's form requires, but never transpose digits.
- Make your website, privacy policy and footer show the same legal name, or the DBA alongside it, so reviewers can connect the two.
- Use a business email on your website's domain for the Brand contact.
Run the Brand Consistency Checker before you submit. It compares your legal name, website and contact details for the mismatches that usually cause Brand verification to fail.
Sole Proprietors and EIN Letters
A sole proprietor with an EIN can register as a standard Brand. The IRS legal name for a sole proprietor's EIN is normally the individual owner's name, not the business trade name, so enter the owner's name as the legal name and the trade name as the DBA. Sole proprietors without an EIN use the separate sole proprietor Brand type, which is verified with a one-time PIN sent to a mobile number and is limited to low volumes. See EIN requirements for sole proprietors and 10DLC registration for small businesses.
Common EIN Problems During 10DLC Registration
| Problem | Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Name mismatch | Brand unverified or failed | Copy the name from the CP 575 or 147C exactly; resubmit through your CSP |
| Old legal name | Fails after a rebrand | Update the name with the IRS, get a 147C, then update the Brand |
| Parent or franchisor EIN | Brand belongs to the wrong entity | Use the EIN of the entity that actually sends the messages |
| EIN already used by many Brands | Duplicate or excessive EIN flags | Consolidate Brands; see excessive EIN registration |
| Wrong entity type | Brand rejected or mis-vetted | Match the entity type to your IRS and state records |
| Typo in EIN | Verification failure | Re-enter from the letter; check each digit |
If your Brand already failed, look up the rejection code in the TCR rejection code directory and follow the fix and resubmit steps.
EIN Letters vs State Formation Documents
Your IRS letter proves the federal tax identity. Your state formation documents (articles of incorporation or organization, and the Secretary of State business entity record) prove the legal entity exists in the state where it was formed. During an appeal or enhanced vetting, a CSP or vetting partner may ask for both. They should agree with each other:
- Legal name. The name on the Secretary of State record and the IRS letter should be the same. If the state record shows a newer name, update the IRS before registering.
- Entity type. An LLC on the state record should not be registered as a corporation on the Brand.
- Status. The entity should be active or in good standing with the state. A dissolved or forfeited entity can fail vetting even with a valid EIN.
- Address. The principal address you submit should match at least one public record, such as the state filing or the address on your website.
Keep a PDF of each document in the same folder as your consent records and website screenshots, so you can answer CSP requests in minutes instead of days.
When Your Address or Responsible Party Changed
The CP 575 shows the address on file when the EIN was assigned. If you have moved, report the change of address to the IRS and use your current principal address on the Brand. If the responsible party changed (for example, after a sale of the business), the IRS expects that update too. Neither change requires a new EIN on its own, but a sale that creates a new entity usually does, and the new entity needs its own Brand registration.
How EIN Accuracy Affects Your Trust Score
Basic Brand verification and secondary vetting both start from your identity data. A clean match between your legal name, EIN, address and website gives vetting partners consistent signals; mismatches weaken them. Fixing identity alignment is the most reliable way to improve a low score. See TCR trust score for how vetting works and what it controls.
Checklist Before You Register
- [ ] CP 575, digital CP 575 or Letter 147C in hand
- [ ] Legal name copied exactly from the letter
- [ ] EIN double-checked digit by digit
- [ ] Entity type matches IRS and state records
- [ ] Address matches public listings
- [ ] Website shows the legal name or the DBA with the legal name
- [ ] Business email on your own domain
- [ ] Privacy policy with an SMS section
The TCR registration checklist covers the full document set.
FAQ
What is a CP 575?
The IRS notice issued when your EIN is first assigned. It shows your EIN and legal name as recorded at assignment.
What is a 147C letter?
Letter 147C, "EIN Previously Assigned", is the IRS letter confirming an existing EIN and the legal name on file. You request it by calling the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line.
Is a 147C letter the same as an EIN verification letter?
Yes. "EIN verification letter" usually means Letter 147C. Eligible Business Tax Account users can also download a digital CP 575 verification notice, which the IRS says can substitute for Letter 147C.
Which is better for 10DLC registration, CP 575 or 147C?
Either works when the legal name matches what you submit. Use the 147C or a current digital notice if your legal name has changed since the EIN was assigned.
Can I get a copy of my CP 575?
The IRS issues the original once. If you lost it, eligible Business Tax Account users can download a digital CP 575; otherwise request Letter 147C.
How long does it take to get a 147C letter?
Faxed letters often arrive the same day you call. Mailed letters take longer. Ask the IRS agent which delivery method is available.
Does The Campaign Registry check my EIN?
Brand registration includes automated identity checks of your legal name and EIN through your CSP. A mismatch is a common cause of unverified Brands.
What legal name should a sole proprietor use?
Usually the owner's own name as shown on the IRS record, with the trade name entered as the DBA.
Disclaimer
Informational only, not legal or tax advice. IRS procedures change; confirm current options on irs.gov. MyTCRPlus does not submit registrations, does not send messages, and is not affiliated with the IRS or The Campaign Registry.