IRS Business Activity Codes

The codes listed in this section are a selection from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) that should be used in completing Form 990, Part VIII, lines 2 and 11. If you don’t see a code for the activity you are trying to categorize, select the appropriate code from the NAICS website. The codes listed in Other (beginning with 90) are not part of the NAIC system and are not listed on the NAICS website. Select the most specific 6-digit code available that describes the activity producing the income being reported. Note that most codes describe more than one type of activity. Avoid using codes that describe the organization rather than the income-producing activity.

Principal Business Activity Codes

(If engaged in more than one unrelated business activity, select up to two codes for the principal activities. List first the largest in terms of gross unrelated income, then the next largest. When classifying your unrelated activities for example, code income from advertising in publications as 541800, Advertising and related services, rather than selecting a code describing a printing or publishing activity.)