How to port a fax number before you cancel
A fax number can only move while the account that holds it is open. Here's the order for leaving eFax, SRFax, WestFax or any other provider without losing the number on your letterhead, what each one charges to release it, and how long a port takes.
Port first, cancel second. A fax number can only be moved while the account that holds it is active. Cancel first and the number can be released to the carrier's pool, where no one can recover it for you. Every year practices lose a number that has been on their letterhead for a decade because they clicked cancel before starting the port. Here is the sequence, and what each provider charges on the way out.
Step 1: Decide whether the number matters
If it is printed on letterhead, filed with payers, listed in provider directories, on your e-prescribing enrollment, or known to referring offices, it matters. Plan to keep it. If it was a temporary number you never gave out, skip the port and take a new number at the new provider.
Step 2: Start the port at the provider you are moving to
Porting is initiated by the new provider, not the old one. You will typically need:
- A recent bill or invoice showing the number and the account holder's name
- A Letter of Authorization, which the new provider prepares for you to sign
- Your account details exactly as the current provider has them on file
At Fax Pigeon, porting in is free on every paid plan: submit the request in Settings, sign the authorization, and we handle the carrier paperwork. Most ports complete in 5 to 15 business days.
Step 3: Wait for the port to complete
Your number keeps working with the old provider until the moment the port lands, so there is no service gap. Do not cancel during this window. When the port completes, faxes to your number arrive at Fax Pigeon automatically.
Step 4: Cancel the old service, and download first
Before you close the account, download anything you may need. Several providers make stored faxes inaccessible the moment an account closes. Then cancel, and ask for written confirmation of the cancellation date.
What the leading providers say about leaving:
| Provider | Releasing your number | Your stored faxes after closing | Refund for the current period |
|---|---|---|---|
| eFax | A number eFax issued "will not be ported to You"; a number you ported in leaves for $40 per number if you are paid up and, within 30 days after the account ends, eFax has your notice and the fee and your new carrier's request has arrived; miss a condition and eFax "shall remain the customer of record" | Inaccessible once the account is closed | None: "no refund shall be made for that monthly period" |
| SRFax | Terms state "you are not the owner of any SRFax Number" and the number may be allocated to another customer | Not addressed on the cancellation page | Refund of the remaining full months, less usage, within 35 days |
| WestFax | $20 port fee applies to numbers coming in; cancellation is by phone per the terms | Data "may be permanently deleted" on termination; 60-day retention while open | The word refund does not appear in the terms |
| Fax.Plus | Porting free with plan requirements | Retention controls are Enterprise-only | "No refunds for past charges, including the most recent one" |
| Fax Pigeon | Free, either direction | Records kept for the life of your account; cancellation keeps them readable and exportable | Full refund within 72 hours of the first subscription |
Step 5: Update the places your number lives
If you ported, nothing changes for the outside world: same number, new provider. If you took a new number instead, update payer files, provider directories, letterhead, your EHR profile and your e-prescribing enrollment, and tell your top referring offices directly.
What switching gets you
Every Fax Pigeon plan includes a signed BAA, public at faxpigeon.com/baa, your own number with free porting both ways, an AI summary of every inbound fax, e-signatures, contact management, and a delivery certificate for every delivered fax. Plans start at $4.99 a month billed annually for 200 pages. See the plans and pricing. For eFax specifically, the step-by-step is in How to cancel eFax and keep your fax number.
* Prices, plan terms and quoted policies last verified September 2, 2026, at each provider's own site. Fax Pigeon is not affiliated with eFax, SRFax, WestFax or Fax.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I keep my fax number if I switch providers?
- Yes, if your provider lets the number leave and you port it before you cancel. Carriers can only move an active number. Once the old account is closed the number can be released to the carrier's pool, and no new provider can recover it for you.
- How long does porting a fax number take?
- Most fax number ports complete in 5 to 15 business days. Your number keeps working with the current provider until the port lands, so there is no gap in service when you port first and cancel second.
- What does it cost to port a fax number out?
- It depends on the provider you are leaving. eFax ports out only a number you ported in, for a $40 administrative fee per number, and a number it issued stays with eFax. WestFax charges $20 per number to port in, and SRFax's terms state the number is not yours to take. Fax Pigeon ports numbers in and out at no charge.
- What do I need to start a port?
- A recent bill or invoice showing the number and the account holder's name, a Letter of Authorization that the new provider prepares for your signature, and your account details exactly as the current provider has them. At Fax Pigeon you submit the request in Settings and we handle the carrier paperwork.
Fax Pigeon
HIPAA-compliant fax with a signed BAA on every plan
Plans start at $4.99 a month billed annually for 200 pages with your own number and unlimited people. Your first fax is free.
- Free porting of your local number
- Fax from your email
- AI summary of every inbound fax
- E-signatures
- Contact management
- Delivery proof
Know a practice that still faxes? Refer it through the referral program and earn 20% of its plan, every month it stays.