Request a Formal Opinion Letter

Before requesting a Formal Opinion Letter, please consult existing EEOC regulations and policy guidance, which may address your question.

Any interested person desiring a Formal Opinion Letter on Title VII or the ADEA from the Commission may make such a request. However, issuance of Formal Opinion Letters is discretionary.

A request for a Formal Opinion Letter under Title VII or the ADEA shall be in writing, signed by the person making the request, specifically request an “opinion letter,” and be addressed to the Chair, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 131 M Street, NE., Washington, DC 20507. Requests should also be sent to: EEOCopinionletters@eeoc.gov.

Any request for a Formal Opinion Letter should contain:

• A concise statement of the issues on which an opinion is requested;
• The names and addresses of the person making the request and of other interested persons;
• As full a statement as possible of all known relevant facts and law; and
• A statement of reasons why the Title VII or ADEA Formal Opinion Letter should be issued.

A request for a Formal Opinion Letter under the ADA, GINA, or the EPA may also be made by following the steps outlined above.  However, these laws do not extend a defense to employers who comply with the terms of an EEOC Formal Opinion Letter.