Australian Taxation Office - Business Industry Codes (ATO BIC) - Australia
Business Industry Codes (BICs) in Australia are five-digit numerical codes provided by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to classify businesses into specific industries based on their primary activities. BICs are based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) system, developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Statistics New Zealand. BICs are a key part of the Australian tax system used by the ATO for tax administration and private businesses for reporting and compliance processes.
Metadata
| Publisher type | National |
| Publisher(s) | |
| Jurisdictions | Australia |
Available versions
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2021 (Current)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2017 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2014 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2013 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2012 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2011 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2010 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2009 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2008 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2007 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2006 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2005 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2004 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2003 (Legacy)
- Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2001 (Legacy)
- Versions prior to BIC 2001 (Legacy)
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) uses Business Industry Codes (BICs) to identify the main business activity of entities operating in Australia. The codes are five-digit numbers which since 1996 have been based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) system. As ANZSIC codes run up to four digits, the BIC is essentially a fifth digit or level of the ANZSIC, published separately by the ATO.
The ATO BIC codes do not have their own individual descriptive titles, as is the in most other industry classification systems, such as United Nation's ISIC or European Union's NACE. Instead, the scope of each BIC code is defined by industries that belong to it.
There are both single-industry codes, as well as multi-industry codes in ATO BIC. For example, in BIC 2021 classification, there are:
Single industry codes:
85121: only "Anaesthetist" industry belongs to this code
85122: only "Specialist medical clinic" industry belongs to this code
85123: only "Dermatologist" industry belongs to this code
Multi-industry codes:
01490: the scope of this code comprises of all following industries: Rice growing, Maize growing, Oat growing, and Oilseed growing (+ 6 other industries)
63220: the scope of this code comprises of all following industries: Accident insurance provision, Fire insurance provision, General insurance, and Household insurance (+ 5 other insurance-related industries)
In all cases above from the latest edition of the codes (BIC 2021), the first four digits of the code are identical to ANZSIC 2006 four-digit (class) code. For example, the first four digits of the code 85121 for Anaesthetist is the ANZSIC 2006 class 8512 (Specialist medical services).
BICs are indispensable for businesses in filling their tax returns. The codes chosen by a business should reflect the activity from which it generates the largest gross income or the smallest loss. Reporting the wrong codes might affect firms' access to certain services or lead to inaccurate targeting of audits. The ATO provides a Business Industry Code tool to help businesses find the right codes for their activities.
Versions
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2021 (Current)
BIC 2021 has been in operation since 2021. It is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It lists 2817 industries, labelling each with one of 582 five-digit Business Industry Codes.
Changes between BIC 2017 and BIC 2021
Minor changes were made in BIC 2021. The Comedians industry was moved from 90020 in BIC 2017 to 90029 in BIC 2021. Code titles were modified such as that of 14130 which changed from Timber mfg in BIC 2017 to Timber mfg - other wood product manufacturing in BIC 2021. Disposal of waste paper and Retail commission-based buying and/ or selling nec were added under the codes 29210 and 43209 respectively while First Home Saver Account Trust under the code 63300 in BIC 2017 was removed from BIC 2021.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2017 (Legacy)
BIC 2017 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 583 five-digit codes covering 2814 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2014 (Legacy)
BIC 2014 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 583 five-digit codes covering 2814 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2013 (Legacy)
BIC 2013 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 583 five-digit codes covering 2742 industries.
Changes Between BIC 2012 and BIC 2013
New industries were added in BIC 2013 under existing codes. These include Solar cell mfg and Solar electricity panel mfg under the code 24390; Auctioning service – electronic under code 38000; Non-financial asset broking service under the code 69990; Computer facilities management service, Computer network systems design and integration service and Software simulation and testing service, all under the code 70000.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2012 (Legacy)
BIC 2012 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 581 five-digit codes covering 2729 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2011 (Legacy)
BIC 2011 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 581 five-digit codes covering 2729 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2010 (Legacy)
BIC 2010 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 581 five-digit codes covering 2729 industries.
Changes Between BIC 2009 and BIC 2010
The industry First Home Saver Account Trust was added under the code 63300. Dyes mfg - organic was moved from 18210 in BIC 2009 to 18120 in BIC 2010. The industry Synthetic rubber and resin mfg was added under the code 18210.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2009 (Legacy)
BIC 2009 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 581 five-digit codes covering 2727 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2008 (Legacy)
BIC 2008 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 581 five-digit codes covering 2727 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2007 (Legacy)
BIC 2007 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 581 five-digit codes covering 2727 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2006 (Legacy)
BIC 2006 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006. It contains 581 five-digit codes covering 2727 industries.
Changes Between BIC 2005 and BIC 2006
Following the update from ANZSIC 1993 to ANZSIC 2006, the Business Category Codes were changed accordingly in the 2006 edition to reflect the reorganized classification system. With a few exceptions, industries from BIC 2005 were recoded and new ones added in BIC 2006.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2005 (Legacy)
BIC 2005 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 1993. It contains 543 five-digit codes covering 2654 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2004 (Legacy)
BIC 2004 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 1993. It contains 2654 industries under 543 five-digit codes.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2003 (Legacy)
BIC 2003 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 1993. It contains 543 five-digit codes covering 2659 industries.
Resources
Business Industry Codes (BIC) 2001 (Legacy)
BIC 2001 is based on the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 1993. It contains 552 five-digit codes covering 2662 industries.
Resources
Versions prior to BIC 2001 (Legacy)
Where is it used
The ATO is the primary user of BICs being a core part of its tax administration tools. Based on BICs, the ATO publishes data such as industry benchmarks and small business benchmarks which are used to identify tax avoidance and indebtedness across industries.
Private businesses also use the above benchmarks to check their performance relative to other businesses in an industry. Moreover, business owners and their advisers can use the benchmarks and other BIC-based data provided by the ATO for other forms of performance analytics.
Further resources
Other resources
Australian Taxation Office - How we use business performance benchmarks
An Investigation and Exploration of Undisputed Tax Debts in Australia
Australian Taxation Office - Partnership and trust tax returns instructions, 2000
From kebab shop to chiropractor, you can now instantly check your business performance