IRS Letter for Your US LLC: What CP215, CP575 and Letter 147C Mean

An envelope from the IRS addressed to your US LLC is stressful, especially from abroad. Before anything else, look at the right corner of the letter: the IRS says you can find the CP or LTR number there, and the number tells you what the letter is about.

In short:

• Find the number (for example CP215, CP575, LTR 147C) in the right corner of the letter. The IRS lets you search for a notice by number or topic.
• A CP215 is a Notice of Penalty Charge. The IRS manual says the penalty assessed on a Form 5472 attached to a late-filed Form 1120 results in a CP 215 being issued.
• A CP575 confirms an EIN. The IRS page asks you to keep it in your permanent records.
• Letter 147C confirms an EIN that already exists. You request it from the IRS.
• Act by the due date on the notice. If you owe an amount, the IRS says to pay by the due date even if you cannot pay in full, to reduce interest and penalty charges.

Four IRS notices and letters, and what they are

CP215: the Form 5472 penalty notice

The Internal Revenue Manual (IRM 21.8.2) says the IRS assesses the section 6038A initial penalty on Form 5472 returns attached to a late-filed Form 1120, and that the assessment "will result in a CP 215 notice being issued to the taxpayer". The penalty is $25,000 for each attached Form 5472 for tax years beginning on January 1, 2018 and later.

A CP215 is not necessarily the end. The IRS says to contact it if you disagree, and a penalty on Form 5472 can be challenged with a reasonable cause statement. Our guide to the Form 5472 penalty abatement letter (template) explains the standard and how to send the request. If you also missed earlier years, see catching up on past years. No outcome is guaranteed: the IRS decides.

CP575 and Letter 147C: proof of your EIN

The IRS describes the CP575 as a digital notice that confirms your EIN, available only through Business Tax Account. It can stand in for the original CP 575 series and for Letter 147C. The original CP 575 notice "cannot be duplicated or recreated". If a bank or Stripe asks for proof of your EIN and you have lost the original, our guide to IRS Letter 147C shows the options.

What to do with any IRS letter

The IRS gives the same steps for every notice:

1. Read it carefully and keep it with your records.
2. If you agree, do what it asks. You only need to reply if the IRS asks you to.
3. If you disagree, follow the instructions on the notice and include copies of the documents that support you. To guarantee your appeal rights, reply by the due date.
4. If you owe an amount, pay by the due date, even a partial amount, to reduce interest and penalty charges.
5. If the letter looks suspicious or does not appear when you search for it, the IRS says to call the IRS and follow the representative's instructions (see the IRS page linked in the sources).

What Melya does with your letter

Melya prepares tax filings and explains notices. We do not represent you before the IRS and we do not give tax advice for your country of residence. With IRS Letter Explained in 24 Hours ($49), you send us the letter through our secure client portal, and within 24 hours you receive, in English or French, what it says, the deadline and what to do next. If a response is needed, we prepare it for your signature.

Your checklist

• Note the CP or LTR number and the date on the letter.
• Write the due date and the amount (if any) in your calendar.
• Find the matching return in your records (for example the Form 1120 with Form 5472 for that year).
• Do not ignore it: do what the notice asks (reply, pay or dispute) by the due date.
• Keep the letter and anything you send back, with proof of sending.

Related guides

• who must file Form 5472
• finding a lost EIN

Frequently asked questions

I received a CP215. Do I have to pay straight away? The IRS page says to read your notice for the due date, the amount and the payment options, and to contact the IRS if you disagree. Interest accrues on any unpaid amount after the due date.

What is the difference between CP15 and CP215? Both are Notices of Penalty Charge. The IRS manual says a CP 15 goes with individual (IMF) accounts and a CP 215 with business (BMF) accounts.

Do I have to answer a CP575? It confirms an EIN. The IRS page asks you to keep it in your permanent records and to use your EIN on everything you send to the IRS.

Can I get a copy of my original CP575? No. The IRS says the original notice cannot be duplicated or recreated. You can request Letter 147C or, if eligible, use the digital CP575.

Sources

• IRS, If you receive an IRS notice or letter: where to find the number, what to do.
• IRS, Understanding your CP215 notice.
• IRS, Understanding your CP575 notice.
• IRM 21.8.2, International, BMF International Adjustments: Form 5472 penalty and CP 215.
• IRM 20.1.9, International Penalties: CP 15 and CP 215, Notice of Penalty Charge.