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American Express Business Information Update

Frequently Asked Questions

 

To comply with federal regulatory requirements, American Express is requesting updated business details, including:

 

  • Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN/EIN)*
  • Legal Business Name
  • Document used for Verification (approved IRS documentation – see list below)

 

*Your EIN is your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).

 

This document explains why the information is needed and how to securely submit it. It also addresses what to do if you need to correct your information and the potential consequences of not completing the update—such as disruption of Card usage.

 

About this Request
Why am I being contacted by American Express? To comply with federal regulatory requirements, we periodically request updated business information. Failure to provide this information will result in disruption to your account and may result in the cancellation of your Business Card.
What information do I have to provide? 

We ask that you confirm the following information related to your business:

• Legal Business Name
• Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN/EIN)
• Documents used for Verification (see list of approved IRS documents below)

Required IRS Documents Used for Verification
What document(s) do I need to provide?

You must submit one (1) of the following approved IRS documents in PDF, JPG, or PNG format. The document must clearly display your Legal Business Name and your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN/EIN).

 

• EIN Letters (Preferred): CP575, 147C
• Entity Election/Classification Documents: CP261
• Form W-9
• Unmasked IRS Transcript
• Masked IRS Transcript AND Filed Business Tax Returns (must be dated within the last 18 months from the date of submission): Forms 940, 941, 990, 1065, 1120, 1120-S

 

EIN Letters, Entity Election/Classification documents, and Form W-9 are accepted regardless of issue date.

What are the CP575 and 147C letters?

• CP575 Letter: The original confirmation letter the IRS sends when your business is first assigned a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN/EIN).
• 147C Letter: A verification letter from the IRS confirming your business name and TIN/EIN on file. It can be requested anytime if you no longer have your CP575 Letter.

 

You may also submit any of the other approved IRS documents listed above.

How do I get one of these letters?

• A CP575 Letter is issued by the IRS when you first established your business.
• If you no longer have your CP575 Letter, you can request a 147C Letter from the IRS by calling 1-800-829-4933 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm local time). The IRS typically faxes it to you the same day or mails it to you.

How long does it take to get a 147C Letter?IRS fax delivery typically occurs the same day. Mailed copies generally arrive within 10–14 business days; however, due to IRS processing delays, mail delivery can take 4–6 weeks.
IRS Transcript
What is an IRS Tax Transcript?An IRS tax transcript for a business provides a summary of the business's tax return items as originally filed, including income, deductions, and other relevant information. It does not reflect any changes made after the original filing.
How do I obtain an IRS Transcript?The following link to the IRS website provides step by step instructions on how to obtain an IRS Tax Transcript: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/get-a-business-tax-transcript
Is there a preferred IRS Transcript Type?The Entity IRS Transcript is usually unmasked, so the full EIN is shown. This helps us verify your EIN and Company Name
Why do you require multiple documents when the IRS Transcript is maskedThe full EIN needs to be shown for us to verify it. If the IRS Transcript is masked, we require an additional document that shows your entire EIN. Forms 940, 941, 990, 1065, 1120, or 1120-S are all acceptable as secondary documents, but they must be dated within the last 18 months.
Privacy & Security 
What is this information used for, and will it be secure?

If you have questions or concerns on how American Express maintains your privacy, please refer to our Privacy Center.

 

Your information will be used solely to validate and update your business account details. All data is transmitted and stored securely in accordance with our Online Privacy Statement.

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