Where can I find a list of job categories or business types for Schedule C forms?
Hey everyone, I'm completely lost trying to fill out my Schedule C for the first time. I started a side business last year designing and selling custom pottery online, and now I'm trying to do my taxes myself to save some money. The form is asking for a business code or category, and I have no idea what to put. Is there some official list of job or business categories that I'm supposed to choose from for Schedule C? I don't want to mess this up and trigger an audit or something. Any help would be super appreciated!
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Chloe Robinson
The business codes for Schedule C can be found in the Schedule C instructions from the IRS. They're listed in an appendix at the end of the instructions document. For your pottery business, you'd likely fall under something like "339900 - Other miscellaneous manufacturing" or possibly "453220 - Gift, novelty, and souvenir stores" if you're mainly selling rather than producing. Don't worry too much about getting the exact perfect code - the IRS uses these mainly for statistical purposes. As long as you choose something reasonably close to your actual business activity, you'll be fine. Selecting the wrong code isn't going to trigger an audit by itself.
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Diego Chavez
•Thanks for this info! Question: does the business code affect how much I can deduct for my home office? Also, do different business codes have different audit risk levels? I've heard certain categories get flagged more often.
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Chloe Robinson
•The business code doesn't affect your home office deduction at all. Your home office deduction is based on the actual space used exclusively for business and how you calculate it (simplified or regular method), not what type of business you run. No, business codes don't directly determine audit risk. The IRS looks at many factors when selecting returns for audit, such as unusually high deductions relative to income, round numbers that suggest estimates, or inconsistencies in reporting. Just make sure your deductions are legitimate and you have documentation to back them up.
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NeonNebula
I was in the same boat last year with my freelance writing business and couldn't figure out where to find the right category. I ended up using taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was a game changer. It analyzed my business activities and gave me the correct business code to use, plus it flagged some deductions I was missing for my home office setup. The site has this feature where you can upload photos of receipts and it organizes everything for you by category automatically.
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Anastasia Kozlov
•How accurate is this thing? I tried using TurboTax for my handyman business and it suggested a code that seemed way off.
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Sean Kelly
•Does it work for multiple businesses? I have a photography business and also do some graphic design work. Not sure if I need separate Schedule Cs or if I can combine them.
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NeonNebula
•It's really accurate - it uses some AI thing to analyze what you're actually doing in your business and matches it to the proper code. I was skeptical too but it nailed mine perfectly. For multiple businesses, it can definitely handle that. It actually helped me realize I needed separate Schedule Cs for my writing work and my online course business since they're different enough activities. The tool guides you through when to separate and when you can combine business activities.
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Anastasia Kozlov
Just wanted to update everyone - I tried taxr.ai after posting my question yesterday and wow, totally worth it! Not only did it help me find the right business code (I'm a 238990 - All Other Specialty Trade Contractors apparently), but it also identified about $1,800 in deductions I was about to miss related to my tools and truck expenses. The receipt scanner feature saved me hours of sorting through shoeboxes of receipts. Definitely recommend for anyone struggling with Schedule C stuff.
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Zara Mirza
If you're still having trouble after trying the options above, you might want to consider calling the IRS directly. I know, I know - everyone says it's impossible to get through, but I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it actually worked! They have this service that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you, then calls you when an actual human picks up. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was stuck on a similar Schedule C issue with classifying my Etsy shop, and the IRS agent was actually super helpful and gave me the exact code to use. Saved me hours of research and uncertainty.
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Luca Russo
•How long did you have to wait for them to call you back? Whenever I've tried calling the IRS myself, I get the "due to high call volume" message and get disconnected.
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Nia Harris
•This sounds like a scam. Why would I pay someone else to call the IRS for me? I bet they just put you on hold themselves and pretend they're doing something special.
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Zara Mirza
•I got a call back within about 35 minutes, which was shocking compared to my previous attempts. They handle all the waiting and navigating the confusing phone system, and you only get called when there's an actual IRS person ready to talk. It's definitely not a scam - they don't pretend to do anything special, they're just solving the problem of how impossible it is to reach the IRS. They use technology to wait on hold instead of you having to do it. I was skeptical too but my issue got resolved in one phone call after weeks of frustration.
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Nia Harris
Ok I need to eat my words and apologize to Profile 6. After continually getting shut out trying to call the IRS myself about my business code question, I broke down and tried Claimyr yesterday. Within 45 minutes I was talking to an actual IRS representative who walked me through exactly which code to use for my dog training business (812910 if anyone's curious). I was 100% convinced this would be a waste of money but it actually saved me hours of frustration and googling. Totally worth it.
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GalaxyGazer
Here's a quick and easy solution I discovered - just go to naics.com and use their search tool. Type in what your business does, and it will show you the right NAICS code, which corresponds to the IRS business codes. I make custom jewelry and found my code in like 2 minutes. Just put the last 6 digits of the NAICS code on your Schedule C.
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Mateo Sanchez
•Is the NAICS code really the same as what the IRS wants? I thought they had their own system.
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GalaxyGazer
•The IRS business codes are based on the NAICS codes, but they're not always exactly the same. The IRS uses a simplified version with 6 digits instead of the full NAICS system. In most cases, the codes will match up well enough, but for absolute certainty, you should check the Schedule C instructions where the IRS lists all their official business codes. The NAICS search is just a quicker way to narrow down to the right category.
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Aisha Mahmood
Anyone else notice that the business code doesn't really matter that much? I've used different codes for my consulting business over the years (sometimes management consulting, sometimes business consulting) and it's never made any difference to my taxes or triggered any questions from the IRS. I think we're all overthinking this lol.
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Ethan Moore
•This is terrible advice. While it might not have mattered in your specific case, using inaccurate codes can definitely raise flags during automated screening. My brother got audited partly because he used a retail code for what was actually a service business. The deduction patterns didn't match typical businesses in that category.
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Carmen Reyes
For pottery specifically, you'll want to look at code 327110 (Pottery and Ceramics Manufacturing) if you're primarily making the pottery yourself, or 453998 (All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers) if you're mainly selling pottery made by others. Since you mentioned designing and selling custom pottery, 327110 is probably your best bet. The IRS Publication 535 also has a helpful table that cross-references business activities with the correct codes. You can download it from irs.gov and it's much easier to navigate than digging through the Schedule C instructions. Don't stress too much about getting it perfect - as long as it reasonably describes your business activity, you'll be fine!
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