Bank, Stripe or Amazon Blocking Your US LLC? Which Document They Mean and How to Get It

When a bank, Stripe, Amazon or PayPal holds your US LLC's payouts, the message usually names a document: an EIN letter, a W-9, a W-8BEN, a certificate of good standing. They look alike, but each one comes from a different place and needs a different answer. This page tells you which is which, then points to the full guide for each.

In short:

• "Proof of your EIN": the original IRS notice (CP 575) "cannot be duplicated or recreated". The IRS sends Letter 147C instead, and it can be requested for an LLC owned from abroad.
• "A W-9": for a single-member LLC owned by a foreign person, the IRS instructions say the owner completes a Form W-8 instead: W-8BEN for an individual, W-8BEN-E for a company.
• "Good standing": a certificate from the state where the LLC was formed. A dissolved LLC has to be reinstated first.
• "Name does not match": the name on the account, the form and the IRS record must be the same. A mismatch is a frequent reason a payout stays blocked.

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Which request is yours?

Prices are fixed and confirmed in writing before any work starts. Melya prepares the documents and requests; the IRS and the states decide on their side.

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EIN proof: Letter 147C, not a copy of the CP 575

If you lost the original EIN notice, or it never reached your foreign address, the IRS says it cannot duplicate or recreate it. The IRS sends Letter 147C, "EIN Previously Assigned", which shows the name and the EIN as the IRS holds them. You can ask by phone on the IRS Business and Specialty Tax Line (800-829-4933, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time), or through a third party with a signed Form 8821. By mail, allow 10 to 14 business days. The details are in our guide to Letter 147C. If you simply cannot find the number, start with how to find a lost EIN: do not apply for a second EIN.

W-9 or W-8BEN: what a foreign owner sends

A bank that sees a US LLC with an EIN often sends a W-9 by default. For a single-member LLC owned by a foreign person, the W-9 instructions say the owner completes a Form W-8 instead, even if the owner has a US tax number. Names matter: on a W-9 for a disregarded entity, line 1 is the owner's name; on a W-8BEN, the owner's name goes on line 1, and the LLC's name and account number can be given on line 7 (reference number). A payer without valid documentation may have to withhold 30%, which is why the request is often urgent. See what to send when a bank asks for a W-9.

Good standing: proof the LLC is current

Banks and notaries abroad often ask for a certificate of good standing, sometimes with an apostille. It comes from the state, and a dissolved LLC has to be reinstated first. If the state shows another problem, fix it first. See the good standing and apostille guide.

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What to do first

1. Read the exact request from the bank or platform and name the document it asks for.
2. Check that the LLC name, the EIN and the owner's name are written the same way everywhere.
3. Pick the row of the table above. If two apply, start with the one that unblocks the payout.

Melya prepares US tax filings and forms for foreign owners of US LLCs. Melya's preparer holds a PTIN and is not a CPA, an enrolled agent or an attorney, and does not represent clients before the IRS. Nothing here is tax advice for your country of residence.

Ask for a fixed quote and tell us which request you received.

Related reading: What to file after Stripe Atlas

Frequently asked questions

What replaces the CP 575 when my bank asks for proof of my EIN?

IRS Letter 147C. The original CP 575 notice "cannot be duplicated or recreated", so the IRS sends a 147C instead, and it can be requested for an LLC owned from abroad.

Should I send a W-9 or a W-8BEN?

For a single-member LLC owned by a foreign person, the IRS instructions say the owner completes a Form W-8 instead of a W-9: a W-8BEN for an individual, a W-8BEN-E for a company.

What is "good standing" and what if my LLC is dissolved?

It is a certificate from the state where the LLC was formed, showing that the LLC is current. A dissolved LLC has to be reinstated first.

Why is my payout still blocked after I sent the documents?

A frequent reason is a name mismatch: the name on the account, on the form and on the IRS record must be the same. Compare the three before you send anything again.