"Inland Revenue Letter" for Now-Defunct Companies? Help!!

Hoping you helpful bunch will be able to offer some guidance here...

So, I'm 3 months into my time here in the UK, and my job search hasn't exactly been fruitful. I've finally had a bite, and have an offer of employment at Stansted Airport. But because the work would be behind security, I'd need to pass an extensive background check to get what they call an "Airside Pass". They need to check with all of my employers from the last 5 years, and unfortunately a couple of the companies I worked for in the states have since gone out of business. The background check company has told me I would need to obtain an "Inland Revenue Letter" to verify that the company existed and that I worked there. They have been of no help trying to figure out what the US equivalent of that would be.

I am totally lost on how to get this sort of letter. Do I need to contact the IRS? I really need this job and don't want to have them retract their offer based on lack of info on my airside pass application.

Hoping you helpful bunch will be able to offer some guidance here...

So, I'm 3 months into my time here in the UK, and my job search hasn't exactly been fruitful. I've finally had a bite, and have an offer of employment at Stansted Airport. But because the work would be behind security, I'd need to pass an extensive background check to get what they call an "Airside Pass". They need to check with all of my employers from the last 5 years, and unfortunately a couple of the companies I worked for in the states have since gone out of business. The background check company has told me I would need to obtain an "Inland Revenue Letter" to verify that the company existed and that I worked there. They have been of no help trying to figure out what the US equivalent of that would be.

I am totally lost on how to get this sort of letter. Do I need to contact the IRS? I really need this job and don't want to have them retract their offer based on lack of info on my airside pass application.

You can get a social security statement online...  Might be a starting point?

You can get a social security statement online...  Might be a starting point?

Thanks, KFdancer, helpful as always!

I've just poked around on the Social Security website... unfortunately it costs a whopping $136 for past employer records, and to allow 17 weeks for processing! Sigh.

You can get IRS transcripts for free with Form 4506-T. 

The Inland Revenue incidentally does not exist, so the people asking you for this paperwork sound pretty clueless!

You can get IRS transcripts for free with Form 4506-T.

Thanks! Good suggestion; I'll see if they will accept that.

The Inland Revenue incidentally does not exist, so the people asking you for this paperwork sound pretty clueless!

Yes, I know it's the HMRC now... I think the form from the background check company is a bit outdated.