IRS Expands Business Tax Account Features: What Non-U.S. Founders Should Know in 2026
Updated: September 3, 2026
Topic: Business Tax Account, EIN verification, IRS notices, and international founders
The IRS has expanded its Business Tax Account (BTA) features, giving eligible businesses and organizations more ways to view federal tax information, make payments, access notices, and download certain records online. The IRS has also added the ability for designated officials to download an EIN verification notice, Notice CP575, which may be used instead of Letter 147C at banks and financial institutions. [1] [2]
For non-U.S. founders, this update is especially relevant when a U.S. business needs to verify its EIN, manage federal tax records, or coordinate with a bank, accountant, payroll provider, or other professional. However, access is not automatic for every business, and an EIN does not by itself create access to every Business Tax Account feature.
What is Business Tax Account?
Business Tax Account is an IRS online self-service platform for authorized users of eligible business and organization types. Depending on the entity and the user’s role, the account may allow access to business information on file with the IRS, balances, payment history, tax transcripts, digital notices, tax compliance reports, and certain payment functions. [1]
The IRS continues to add features to the platform. Users may be able to schedule federal tax payments, view recently processed payments, manage certain bank accounts used for tax payments, and grant access to eligible employees. Available functions depend on the organization’s structure and the user’s authorization.
Business Tax Account is an IRS information and payment platform. It is not a substitute for professional tax advice, state compliance, payroll registration, or a complete review of the business’s federal filing obligations.
What new BTA features did the IRS announce?
The IRS announced expanded features on August 6, 2026, and highlighted online services again in an August 28, 2026 release. [1] [2] The updated capabilities include the following:
| Feature | Why it may matter to a business |
|---|---|
| Digital IRS notices | Authorized users may view certain notices without waiting for paper correspondence |
| EIN verification notice | Designated officials may download Notice CP575 for use with banks and financial institutions |
| Payment-plan information | Eligible users may view balances and details and make payments toward an existing plan |
| Federal tax payments | Users may make or schedule certain payments from a bank account |
| Tax transcripts | Eligible users may view or download certain payroll, income, and excise-tax transcripts |
| Account access management | Eligible users may grant access to authorized employees |
The IRS identifies these features as part of its effort to make common tax tasks more secure and convenient online. Businesses should still preserve their own copies of IRS notices, EIN confirmation documents, returns, payment records, and authorization records.
Why EIN verification matters for international founders
A non-U.S. founder may need to show that a U.S. business has an EIN when opening a bank account, working with a payment provider, setting up payroll, onboarding with a marketplace, or engaging a tax professional. A bank or financial institution may ask for an EIN confirmation document or an IRS verification notice as part of its own due-diligence process.
The new BTA feature may make it easier for an eligible designated official to download Notice CP575. The notice does not guarantee bank approval. Banks and financial institutions apply their own identity, risk, beneficial-ownership, source-of-funds, and account-opening procedures.
An EIN also does not prove that an entity is compliant with every federal or state requirement. It identifies a business for federal tax administration, but separate obligations may involve income tax returns, information returns, payroll, sales tax, state annual reports, licenses, or foreign-owner reporting.
Who may be able to use Business Tax Account?
The IRS states that BTA currently supports several entity and user categories. These include sole proprietors with an EIN, S corporations, C corporations, federal, state, and local governments, Indian tribal governments, and tax-exempt organizations. [1]
The IRS also describes access for an individual partner or individual shareholder who has both a Social Security number or ITIN and a Schedule K-1 on file for the applicable years. This is an important point for international owners: having an ITIN may support eligibility in a particular BTA access scenario, but an ITIN alone does not guarantee that a person can access every business account or feature.
Eligibility and available tools can depend on the entity type, the individual’s relationship to the entity, IRS records, and the role used during account registration. Users should check the current IRS eligibility requirements before relying on BTA access for a time-sensitive filing or bank request.
ITIN, EIN, and Business Tax Account are different
International entrepreneurs often encounter all three terms during U.S. business setup, but they serve different purposes.
| Term | What it is for | Issued or provided by |
|---|---|---|
| ITIN | Federal tax identification for an eligible individual who is not eligible for an SSN | IRS |
| EIN | Federal tax identification for a business or other eligible entity | IRS |
| Business Tax Account | Online access to certain federal business tax records and functions for eligible authorized users | IRS online platform |
| LLC formation | Creation of a state-law legal entity | Relevant state authority |
An ITIN does not replace an EIN when a business needs a business tax identifier. An EIN does not automatically establish that the owner needs an ITIN. Business Tax Account access is a separate online-account issue and depends on IRS eligibility and authorization records.
What international businesses should prepare
Keep the legal name consistent
Use the same legal business name across the formation documents, EIN application, bank application, tax returns, and IRS account records. A mismatch can create confusion during account verification or financial onboarding.
Preserve the EIN confirmation
Keep the original EIN confirmation and any later IRS correspondence in a secure business record. The BTA download feature is useful, but it should not be the only copy of an important tax document.
Identify the authorized user
The person registering for BTA should understand their role in the business and maintain secure access credentials. An owner, officer, partner, shareholder, or designated official may have different access rights depending on the entity and IRS records.
Separate federal and state tasks
BTA concerns federal tax records and functions. It does not replace state annual reports, registered-agent obligations, state tax registrations, beneficial-owner records requested by a bank, or local licensing requirements.
Coordinate with the bank or tax professional
If a bank requests EIN verification, ask which document it accepts and whether it requires additional corporate, ownership, identity, address, or source-of-funds documentation. A CP575 or other IRS document may be only one part of the bank’s review.
Can ITIN.com provide access to Business Tax Account?
No. Business Tax Account is an IRS online service, and the IRS controls eligibility, identity verification, authorization, and account access. ITIN.com does not create or control an IRS Business Tax Account.
ITIN.com can help prepare and coordinate related U.S. market-entry services, including ITIN preparation for eligible individuals, EIN application support for businesses, LLC formation coordination, and banking assistance. The IRS issues ITINs and EINs, state authorities form LLCs, and banking partners decide account approval. ITIN.com prepares, verifies, files, coordinates, and guides; it does not issue government identifiers or guarantee access or approval.
What BTA does not change
The IRS online-service expansion does not eliminate the need to file required returns, make timely payments, maintain accurate records, or respond to notices. It also does not change the distinction between an individual owner and a business entity.
A non-U.S. owner should not assume that receiving an EIN means the business is fully compliant, that an ITIN authorizes work in the United States, or that a BTA account confirms bank eligibility. Each question must be evaluated separately.
Bottom line
The IRS’s expanded Business Tax Account features may make it easier for eligible businesses to access digital notices, manage certain federal payments, view records, and download EIN verification information. For international founders, the most practical step is to keep the business’s legal name, EIN records, ownership information, and authorized-user details consistent across IRS, banking, and professional-service relationships.
Important: This article is general information based on IRS materials available on September 3, 2026. It is not tax, legal, accounting, banking, or immigration advice. BTA features and eligibility may change, and access depends on the business and user’s specific IRS records.
