GRANT THORNTON LLP April 25, 2019 Grant Thornton Tower 1201 Walnut St., Suite 2200 Kansas City, MO 64106 D +1 816 412 2400 F +1 816 412 2404 The Board of Directors of CVR Energy, Inc. S linkd.in/grantthorntonus twitter.com/grantthorntonus Dear Directors: We are providing this letter solely for inclusion as an exhibit to CVR Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) Form 10-Q filing pursuant to Item 601 of Regulation S-K. As stated in Note 3 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2019, the Company changed its accounting for the Petroleum Segment’s turnaround activities from the direct expensing method to the deferral method. Note 3 also states management’s belief that the newly adopted accounting principle is preferable in the circumstances because it increases consistency to its peer companies and better reflects the economic substance of the benefits earned from a turnaround. With regard to the aforementioned accounting change, it should be understood that authoritative criteria have not been established for evaluating the preferability of one acceptable method of accounting over another acceptable method and, in expressing our concurrence below, we have relied on management’s business planning and judgment and on management’s determination that this change in accounting principle is preferable. Based on our reading of management’s stated reasons and justification for this change in accounting principle in the Form 10-Q, and our discussions with management as to their judgment about the relevant business planning factors relating to the change, we concur with management that the newly adopted method of accounting is preferable in the Company’s circumstances. GT.COM U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd

We have not audited the application of the aforementioned accounting change to the financial statements included in Part I of the Company’s Form 10-Q. We also have not audited any consolidated financial statements of the Company as of any date or for any period subsequent to December 31, 2018. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on whether the accounting for the change in accounting principle has been properly applied or whether the aforementioned financial statements are fairly presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Sincerely, /s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP Kansas City, Missouri