What is the business code for teaching

[GeoffreyG · Accepted solution]

Although it won't alter any dollar amounts on your tax return, and thus won't change the amount of your refund or taxes owed, it's important to at least make an attempt to enter an accurate (or as accurate as possible) business code for self-employment activities.  Aside from government statisticians who track such things, it's an indication to the IRS that you've completed your tax return conscientiously.

That said, there really isn't a specific 6-digit code for "Teaching" as a self-employment or business occupation.  However, the best reasonable "fit" for this activity is to categorize the teaching function as part of the broader field of education.  If you can agree with that, then Code 611000 (Educational Services) will do just fine.  (Please see the screen-capture image below this text for the IRS source material where I found this code; simply click to open the picture.)

If you'd like to look through the complete list of available business codes yourself, you can do so by reviewing the table found on Pages C-17 and C-18 of the Form 1040 Schedule C instructions.  A courtesy link to that document is provided for you below:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040sc.pdf

However, if you are comfortable with Code 611000, then you may simply use that.

Thanks for asking this question.