By Outrider Editorial Team · Updated August 20, 2026
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments (except offices of CPAs) engaged in providing accounting services (except tax return preparation services only or payroll services only). These establishments may also provide tax return preparation or payroll services. Accountant (except CPA) offices, bookkeeper offices, and billing offices are included in this industry.
FY2025 obligations
$814.6M
Contract actions
684
IDVs
182
Top buying agencies
- Department of Defense$525.4M
- Department of Homeland Security$47.9M
- Department of State$46.9M
- Department of Health and Human Services$33.5M
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration$26.5M
FY2025 federal contract obligations, USAspending.gov
NAICS 541219 obligated $815 million in FY2025 across 684 contract actions, an average of nearly $1.2 million each. DoD is $525 million, DHS $48 million, State $47 million, HHS $33 million, NASA $27 million. The DoD share here is financial operations support: reconciliation, transaction processing, accounting policy, and system-level cleanup that sits behind the audit rather than performing it.
What belongs here
Accounting services provided by establishments that are not CPA offices, excluding firms doing only tax return preparation or only payroll. Bookkeeping offices and billing offices are included.
- Attest work, audits, and opinions require a CPA firm and belong in 541211.
- Financial management strategy and process redesign is 541611.
- Business process outsourcing of a full back office is often 561110.
Competing in this code
182 IDVs against 684 actions with a $1.2 million average describes substantive, multi-year engagements. The distinction that decides which code a solicitation uses is whether the government wants an opinion. If it does, the requirement is written for CPAs and 541219 firms cannot win it. If it wants the accounting done, 541219 is the correct code and the CPA credential stops being a differentiator, which levels the field considerably. Firms that hold both registrations should read every solicitation for the word attest before deciding which past performance to lead with.
Frequently Asked
NAICS 541219 questions, answered.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 541219?
SBA sets it at $25 million in average annual receipts, averaged over your last five completed fiscal years. Come in at or under that and you are small on every NAICS 541219 solicitation, including the set-asides.
Which agencies buy accounting services under NAICS 541219?
FY2025 obligations: DoD ($525 million), DHS ($48 million), State ($47 million), HHS ($33 million), NASA ($27 million). DoD's share is financial operations support standing behind the audit, not the audit itself.
What is the difference between NAICS 541219 and 541211?
Whether the government is buying an opinion. 541211 is CPA firms performing attest work: audits, examinations, and compliance opinions. 541219 covers accounting services from non-CPA establishments, including reconciliation, transaction processing, and bookkeeping. FY2025 spending was $815 million and $1 billion respectively, and the codes rarely compete against each other.
Can a CPA firm register under NAICS 541219?
The code is scoped to establishments that are not CPA offices, so a CPA firm's primary code should be 541211. What matters practically is which code the solicitation uses. If a requirement for accounting operations support is issued under 541219, a CPA firm bidding it is competing outside the code that describes its establishment.
Register Under NAICS 541219
Classify your business correctly to maximize visibility to federal buyers and access small business set-asides.
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