NAICS 2017 to 2022 Updates: Key Changes, Splits, and Mergers

Compiled & reviewed by the EntityCodes Editorial Team (Tech Labs FZ LLC) · Data verified: 2026-06-28

The U.S. Census Bureau revises the NAICS taxonomy every five years, with the 2022 update introducing significant changes to retail, wholesale, and information sectors.

Major Consolidations in NAICS 2022

The 2022 revision focused heavily on streamlining retail and wholesale sectors to reflect modern digital commerce trends. Specifically, the Census Bureau consolidated traditional store-based and non-store retailers into new aggregated categories ^[1].

For instance, electronic shopping activities previously classified under NAICS 454110 (electronic shopping and mail-order houses) were consolidated into the new 2022 code NAICS 455410 (electronic shopping and mail-order houses) to unify reporting standards. Our database contains exactly 1,012 distinct six-digit codes in the active 2022 NAICS list ^[1].

Impact on Compliance Records

Firms with active federal registrations must update their profiles in SAM.gov to align with the 2022 codes. If a firm's historical NAICS code was retired or merged, federal agencies will map historical contracting awards using the official NAICS conversion matrix ^[2].

Official Regulatory References & Mappings

To support the core compliance tasks detailed in this guide on NAICS 2017 to 2022 Updates: Key Changes, Splits, and Mergers, compliance officers and corporate attorneys must consult several official databases. The foundational structure of these codes is governed by the U.S. Census Bureau North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Manual. Recent modifications and updates to these classifications are published formally in the Federal Register NAICS Update for 2022 Notice in the Federal Register. When preparing federal tax filings, these classifications map to specific activities under the guidance of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Instructions for Schedule C (Form 1040) Principal Business Activity (PBA) Codes. For government procurement, small business status is cross-referenced using the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Table of Small Business Size Standards and the detailed regulations codified in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR) 13 CFR Part 121 - Small Business Size Regulations. International classifications are maintained by the United Nations and can be compared via the United Nations Statistics Division International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC). Implementation policy directives are issued under the authority of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) NAICS 2022 OMB Statistical Policy Directive No. 8. Labor and employment statistics are organized using the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) NAICS Classifications in BLS Labor Statistics Programs, macroeconomic data is mapped to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Industry Economic Accounts Guide and NAICS Usage, and local establishment counts are audited through the U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns (CBP) Economic Data Methodology.

💡 Expert Guidance: Retired NAICS Code Submission

Submitting contract bids or updating federal profiles using retired NAICS codes (such as NAICS 454110, which was consolidated in the 2022 update) is a frequent compliance failure. Federal contracting officers will reject profiles that list retired codes, resulting in missed bidding deadlines. Always verify your industry against the active 2022 NAICS concordance table.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Census Bureau update NAICS codes? ▾

NAICS codes are revised every five years to capture emerging industries, technology shifts, and changing business structures in North America.

What happens if my NAICS code was changed in 2022? ▾

You must update your business registrations (such as SAM.gov or tax filings) to use the new 2022 code to avoid compliance issues.

What were the major structural changes introduced in the NAICS 2022 revision? ▾

The NAICS 2022 revision focused heavily on consolidating retail and wholesale trade sectors to reflect the growth of e-commerce. Traditional store-based and non-store retailers were merged into new combined categories (such as Sector 458 for Clothing Retailers) to streamline statistical reporting.

How does a NAICS concordance table help database administrators? ▾

A concordance table acts as a translation matrix mapping retired codes from an older vintage (like NAICS 2017) to their active counterparts in a newer vintage (like NAICS 2022). This allows database administrators to update historical compliance records and maintain statistical continuity.

What happens to my active federal contracts if my NAICS code was changed in 2022? ▾

Existing federal contracts will continue to run under the historical NAICS code specified in the original solicitation. However, for new solicitations and registrations, you must list the active 2022 NAICS code in your SAM.gov profile.

Why does the Census Bureau update NAICS codes every five years? ▾

The U.S. Census Bureau updates the NAICS framework every five years to capture emerging industries, technological advancements, and shifts in business organization that are not adequately represented in older classifications.

Where can I find the official Census conversion matrix for NAICS 2017 to 2022? ▾

The official conversion tables and spreadsheets are published by the U.S. Census Bureau on their NAICS reference files page. Our search engine incorporates these concordances to chain mappings transitively.

Are there any sectors that were completely untouched in the 2022 update? ▾

While retail, wholesale, and information sectors underwent significant consolidation, many traditional service sectors (such as Sector 54 for Professional Services) remained largely intact, retaining their historical code structures.

How does the NAICS 2022 update affect SBA small business size standards? ▾

The SBA updates its Table of Size Standards in tandem with NAICS revisions. When NAICS codes are consolidated or split, the SBA maps the corresponding revenue or employee limits to the new 2022 codes to ensure eligibility rules remain aligned.

How can I verify if a specific NAICS code is active or retired? ▾

You can check the code's status in our directory or search index. If a code is retired, its page will clearly show the historical updates and the modern 2022 code that replaces it.