541214 — Payroll Services
Description
This U.S. industry comprises establishments (except offices of CPAs) engaged in the following without also providing accounting, bookkeeping, or billing services: (1) collecting information on hours worked, pay rates, deductions, and other payroll-related data from their clients and (2) using that information to generate paychecks, payroll reports, and tax filings. These establishments may use data processing and tabulating techniques as part of providing their services.
Exclusions & Cross-References
- Establishments of CPAs are classified in U.S. Industry 541211, Offices of Certified Public Accountants;
- Establishments of non-CPAs providing tax return preparation services only are classified in U.S. Industry
- 541213, Tax Preparation Services;
- Establishments of non-CPAs providing accounting, bookkeeping, or billing services along with payroll
- services are classified in U.S. Industry 541219, Other Accounting Services;
- Establishments primarily engaged in processing financial transactions (except central bank) are classified in
- Industry 522320, Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities; and
- Establishments primarily engaged in providing data processing services (except payroll processing services
- and financial transaction processing services) at their own facility for others are classified in Industry
- 518210, Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services.
Overview Facts
| NAICS Code | 541214 |
|---|---|
| Industry Title | Payroll Services |
| SBA Size Standard | $39,000,000 |
| U.S. Establishments | 5,556 (Census CBP, 2023) |
| IRS PBA Code | 541214 (exact match) |
| Sectors Hierarchy | Sector 54 → 541 → 5412 |
| Source / Verified | US Census 2022 NAICS Manual, Census CBP / 2026-06-28 |
Legacy SIC Concordance
Trace the historical mapping chain from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) to the modern 2022 NAICS code format.
- SIC 7819 - Services Allied to Motion Picture Production (via SIC1987:7819→NAICS1997:541214→2002:541214→2007:541214→2012:541214→2017:541214→2022:541214)
- SIC 8721 - Accounting, Auditing, and Bookkeeping Services (via SIC1987:8721→NAICS1997:541214→2002:541214→2007:541214→2012:541214→2017:541214→2022:541214)
Suggested Product Service Codes (Advisory)
The following Product Service Codes (PSCs) are advisory suggestions aligned with this NAICS code. Note: NAICS and PSC codes map to different dimensions of procurement (industry vs. product/service). There is no official binding 1:1 crosswalk.
- PSC R703 — Accounting Services (NOTE: New code created for Financial Services See R710 below)
Source: DoD DPCAP PSC Selection Tool (Ingested: 2026-06-29)
Related Resources & Compliance Guides
Further regulatory reference links for NAICS code 541214:
- Sector 54 Directory Hub — List of related industries in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector.
- SIC ↔ NAICS Crosswalk Tool — Look up mappings between legacy SIC codes and modern classifications.
- SBA Size Standards Guide — Complete rules and averaging periods for small business classifications.
- Calculating Annual Receipts Guide — Detailed worked example of revenue calculation rules.
- IRS Principal Business Activity Guide — How NAICS codes map to corporate and entity tax filings.
Related Industries in 5412
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is 541214 a valid 2022 NAICS code?
NAICS 541214 is 'Payroll Services', a 2022 U.S. national industry under Sector 54 (Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services); the SBA small-business size standard is $39,000,000.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541214?
The SBA small business size standard for NAICS 541214 is $39,000,000 (based on receipts).
What is the legacy SIC code mapping for 541214?
NAICS code 541214 maps to the legacy 1987 SIC codes: 7819 - Services Allied to Motion Picture Production, 8721 - Accounting, Auditing, and Bookkeeping Services.