a

GAO

United States General Accounting Office

Report to Congressional Requesters

January 2004 TAX 

ADMINISTRATION

Information on 

Expenses Claimed by 

Small Business Sole 

Proprietorships

GAO-04-304
www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-04-304.

To view the full product, including the scope 

and methodology, click on the link above. 

For more information, contact Michael 

Brostek at (202) 512-9110 or 

brostekm@gao.gov. 

Highlights of GAO-04-304, a report to 

congressional requesters 

January 2004

TAX ADMINISTRATION

Information on Expenses Claimed by 

Small Business Sole Proprietorships 

In tax years 2000 and 2001, the 10 most commonly claimed categories of 

expenses of sole proprietors filing Schedule C included Other expenses, 

Car/truck, Supplies, Utilities, Office, and Professional/legal. The percentage 

of such taxpayers reporting expenses in these categories varied from 73 

percent for Other expenses to 48 percent for Professional/legal. Because IRS 

does not separately compile information on each of the categories of 

expenses on Schedule F, we could not determine the most commonly 

claimed expenses for taxpayers who filed that schedule. However, the IRS 

data showed that more than 50 percent of the taxpayers who filed Schedule 

F claimed expenses for Depreciation, Repairs, Gasoline/oil, and Supplies. 

The expenses that small businesses reported on schedules C and F varied 

widely across and within expense categories. There was wide variation in 

both median dollar amounts and ranges. Expenses also varied greatly within 

the categories of expenses. For example, the expenses for Wages taxpayers 

reported on Schedule C in tax year 2001 ranged from about $1,000 at the 10th

percentile to $99,000 at the 90th percentile. 

In tax year 2001, there was wide variability in the expenses of sole 

proprietorships by business characteristics such as gross receipts, industry 

category, businesses with inventories, and businesses with home offices. 

Not surprisingly, businesses with higher gross receipts had higher expenses 

compared to businesses with smaller gross receipts. Further, the distribution 

of expenses across expense categories generally remained similar for all 

businesses. However, expenses across industry categories showed wide 

variability in the amounts and ranges of expenses. Sole proprietors in six 

industries whose businesses maintained inventories had significantly higher 

median expenses than those without inventory and sole proprietors with 

home office expenses generally had lower median expenses than those 

without home offices. 

Ranges of Expenses for the 10 Most Commonly Claimed Categories of Expenses on 

Schedule C 

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Meals/entertainment

Insurance

Taxes

Depreciation

Legal/professional services

Office

Utilities

Supplies

Car/truck

Other

Bars show values between the 10th and 90th percentiles and the lines 

extend the ranges to the 1st and 99th percentiles.

Dollars in thousands

Meeting the requirements of tax 

rules can be especially burdensome 

to small business sole 

proprietorships that independently 

own their businesses. Internal 

Revenue Service (IRS) data show 

that, compared to other taxpayer 

groups, sole proprietorships have 

more problems complying with 

their tax obligations. Simplifying 

how sole proprietorships account 

for and report expenses may ease 

their burden and increase 

compliance. 

Because of the requesters’ interest 

in alleviating any unnecessary 

burden that federal tax 

requirements impose on small 

businesses, we were asked to 

provide information on the 

expenses that sole proprietorships 

report on IRS’s Form 1040 

Schedule C—Profit or Loss from 

Business and on Form 1040 

Schedule F—Profit or Loss from 

Farming. By having information on 

the expenses reported by sole 

proprietorships, policymakers may 

be in a better position to develop 

alternatives for simplifying how 

these taxpayers account for and 

report their expenses. 
Page i GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Contents

Letter 1

Results in Brief 2

Background 4

The Most Commonly Claimed Categories of Expenses of Sole 

Proprietorships 5

Wide Variation in Amounts of Expenses Within and Across Expense 

Categories 7

Wide Variation in Expenses by Business Characteristics 11

Agency Comments 25

Appendixes

Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology 26

Appendix II: Information on the Percent of Taxpayers Who Claimed 

Expenses on Schedule C and Schedule F in Tax Years 2000 

and 2001 29

Appendix III: Information on the Amounts and Ranges of Expenses 

Reported on Schedule C and Schedule F 33

Appendix IV: Information on the Expenses Reported on Schedule C by 

Selected Business Characteristics 40

Appendix V: Information on Cost of Goods Sold for Businesses With 

Inventories and Depreciation Expenses by Industry 

Categories 72

Appendix VI: Comments from the Internal Revenue Service 78

Appendix VII: GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments 79

GAO Contacts 79

Acknowledgments 79

Glossary 80

Tables Table 1: Percentage of Taxpayers Who Claimed Expense 

Categories on Schedule C, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 30

Table 2: Percentage of Taxpayers Who Claimed Expense 

Categories on Schedule F, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 31

Table 3: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by 

Amount and Range, Tax Year 2000 34
Contents

Page ii GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 4: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by 

Amount and Range, Tax Year 2001 36

Table 5: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule F 

Compiled by SOI by Amount and Range, Tax Year 2000 38

Table 6: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule F 

Compiled by SOI by Amount and Range, Tax Year 2001 39

Table 7: Percentage of Taxpayers Who Claimed Expense 

Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Business Gross 

Receipts, Tax Year 2000 41

Table 8: Percentage of Taxpayers Who Claimed Expense 

Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Business Gross 

Receipts, Tax Year 2001 43

Table 9: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size 

Based on Business Gross Receipts, Tax Years 2000 and 

2001 45

Table 10: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C 

by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 

2000 47

Table 11: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C 

by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 

2000 49

Table 12: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C 

by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 

2000 51

Table 13: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C 

by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 

2001 53

Table 14: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C 

by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 

2001 55

Table 15: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C 

by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 

2001 57

Table 16: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Total 

Business Gross Receipts, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 59

Table 17: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses by Business Gross Receipts, Tax Years 2000 and 

2001 60

Table 18: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 61

Table 19: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 62
Contents

Page iii GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 20: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses by Businesses With Inventory, Tax Years 2000 

and 2001 63

Table 21: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses by Businesses With and Without Inventory, Tax 

Year 2000 64

Table 22: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses by Businesses With and Without Inventory, Tax 

Year 2001 65

Table 23: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by 

Businesses With and Without Home Office Expense, Tax 

Year 2000 66

Table 24: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by 

Businesses With and Without Home Office Expense, Tax 

Year 2001 68

Table 25: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses by Businesses With Home Office Expense, Tax 

Year 2000 70

Table 26: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses by Businesses With Home Office Expense, Tax 

Year 2001 71

Table 27: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses by Cost of Goods Sold for Businesses With and 

Without Inventory, Tax Year 2000 73

Table 28: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C 

Expenses by Cost of Goods Sold for Businesses With and 

Without Inventory, Tax Year 2001 74

Table 29: Depreciation Expense Reported on Schedule C by 

Industry, Tax Year 2000 75

Table 30: Depreciation Expense Reported on Schedule C by 

Industry, Tax Year 2001 77

Figures Figure 1: Ten Most Commonly Reported Expenses on Schedule C, 

Tax Years 2000 and 2001 6

Figure 2: Reported Expenses Compiled by SOI from Schedule F, 

Tax Years 2000 and 2001 7

Figure 3: Ranges of Expenses Reported on Schedule C, Tax Year 

2001 9

Figure 4: Ranges of Expenses Reported on Schedule F Compiled by 

SOI, Tax Year 2001 10
Contents

Page iv GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 5: Percentage Distribution of Taxpayers According to Their 

Aggregate Expenses Reported on Schedule C, Tax Year 

2001 11

Figure 6: Comparison of Ranges of the 10 Most Commonly Claimed 

Expenses on Schedule C Based On Gross Receipts, Tax 

Year 2001 13

Figure 7: Aggregate Expenses Greater Than 5 Billion Claimed on 

Schedule C and Schedule F by Industry Categories, Tax 

Years 2000 and 2001 15

Figure 8: Schedule C Industry Categories With Median Expenses 

$5,000 or More, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 16

Figure 9: Businesses Maintaining Inventory by Industry Category, 

Tax Years 2000 and 2001 (Schedule C) 18

Figure 10: Median Expenses of Businesses Without and With 

Inventory by Industry, Tax Year 2001 (Schedule C) 20

Figure 11: Businesses Claiming Home Office Expenses by Industry, 

Tax Years 2000 and 2001 (Schedule C) 22

Figure 12: Median Home Office Expenses Reported on Schedule C 

by Industry Category, Tax Year 2001 23

Figure 13: Median Business Expenses Claimed by Businesses With 

and Without Home Office Expense, Tax Year 2001 

(Schedule C) 24

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Page 1 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

United States General Accounting Office

Washington, D.C. 20548

A

January 23, 2004 Letr

The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe

Chair

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

United States Senate

The Honorable Christopher S. Bond

United States Senate

Complying with tax rules can be especially burdensome to small business 

sole proprietorships who independently own their unincorporated 

businesses. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) data show that sole 

proprietorships have more problems meeting their tax obligations than 

other taxpayer groups. For example, IRS examiners proposed adjustments 

to sole proprietors’ tax returns at three times the rate as it did for 

nonbusiness individual tax returns in fiscal year 2001. Simplifying how sole 

proprietorships account for and report their business expenses may ease 

their burden and increase compliance. 

Sole proprietorships report their business-related expenses on IRS’s Form 

1040 Schedule C—Profit or Loss from Business, and farm-related expenses 

on IRS’s Form 1040 Schedule F—Profit or Loss from Farming.1

 Both forms 

are preprinted with a list of expense categories for taxpayers to itemize 

their expenses, including “Other expenses” for expenses not included in 

another category. 

Because of your interest in alleviating any unnecessary burden that federal 

tax requirements impose on small businesses, you asked us for information 

on the expenses that small businesses operating as sole proprietorships 

report on their income tax returns. As agreed with your office, we are 

providing you with information on the expenses claimed by taxpayers on 

Schedule C and Schedule F. Specifically, we are providing information on 

• the most commonly reported categories of expenses; 

• the amount of variation within and across expense categories; and 

1

Elsewhere in this report, we refer to these forms simply as Schedule C and Schedule F.
Page 2 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

• the expenses based on selected business characteristics such as size, 

industry category, businesses with inventories, and businesses with 

home offices. 

You also asked us for information on the cost of goods sold for businesses 

with inventories and information on depreciation expenses by industry 

categories. Appendix V provides that information.

To address our objectives, we reviewed the Schedule C and Schedule F tax 

forms, their related instructions, and other IRS publications pertaining to 

small businesses. We obtained IRS's Statistics of Income (SOI) individual 

income tax databases for tax years 2000 and 2001, the most recent 2 years 

that data were available. The SOI databases included information on 

taxpayers who reported business expenses on Schedule C and Schedule F. 

We used these databases to develop the statistical information in this 

report. Given that the SOI data are a sample, the population estimates made 

from the data are subject to sampling errors. The numbers we report are 

estimated to the population with a 95 percent confidence interval. The 

sample error surrounding each estimate is disclosed for each data table 

contained in the appendixes. Also, we omitted population estimates from 

some tables when there were too few observations or too much sample 

variation to generate reliable estimates. This report only addresses one 

group of small business taxpayers, that is, sole proprietorships who 

reported business expenses on Schedule C or Schedule F. 

We determined that the SOI databases were reliable for our purposes, 

although they have limitations for our purposes. Specifically, because IRS 

does not compile separate information on each of the expense categories 

listed on Schedule F, we could not provide complete information on the 

expenses of small businesses engaged in farming. Furthermore, the SOI 

data contain information as reported by taxpayers on their tax returns prior 

to verification by IRS through audits and other checks. 

We conducted our work between April 2003 and October 2003 in 

accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards. 

Appendix I describes our objectives, scope, and methodology in greater 

detail.

Results in Brief In tax years 2000 and 2001, the most commonly claimed categories of 

expenses for sole proprietors filing Schedule Cs included Other expenses, 

Car/truck, Supplies, Utilities, Office, and Professional/legal. The 
Page 3 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

percentage of taxpayers filing Schedule Cs that reported expenses in these 

categories varied from 73 percent for the Other expense category to 48 

percent for the Professional/legal expense category. Because the SOI 

database did not separately compile information for each expense category 

on Schedule F, we were unable to determine the most commonly reported 

categories of expenses of taxpayers filing Schedule F. However, over 50 

percent of the taxpayers filing Schedule F claimed expenses for 

Depreciation, Repairs, Gasoline/oil, and Supplies. 

The expenses that small businesses reported on Schedule C and Schedule F 

varied widely across and within expense categories. There was wide 

variation in both median dollar amounts and ranges. On Schedule C in tax 

year 2001, the 99th percentile2

 ranged from about $10,000 for 

Meals/entertainment expenses to nearly $350,000 for Wages. Expenses also 

varied greatly within the categories of expenses. For example, the 

expenses for Wages that taxpayers reported on Schedule C in tax year 2001 

ranged from about $1,000 at the 10th percentile to about $99,000 at the 90th

percentile. 

In tax year 2001, there was wide variability in the expenses of sole 

proprietorships based on business characteristics such as size (measured 

in gross receipts), industry category, businesses with inventories, and 

businesses with home offices.3

 Not surprisingly, for the 10 most commonly 

claimed expenses on Schedule C, businesses with higher gross receipts had 

higher expenses in contrast to businesses with smaller gross receipts that 

had lower expenses. Further, the distribution of expenses across expense 

categories generally remained similar for all business sizes. However, in 

viewing the expenses across industry categories, the data showed wide 

variability in the amounts and ranges of expenses. For example, the total 

expenses that farming sole proprietorships claimed were about 75 percent 

larger than the total expenses that taxpayers claimed for any other 

industry. In six industries, sole proprietors whose businesses maintained 

inventories had significantly higher median expenses than those that did 

not, and sole proprietors with home office expenses generally had lower 

median expenses than those without home offices. 

2

We are not providing information on ranges of expense categories for the absolute 

minimum and maximum amounts to remove extreme outliers and to ensure that we do not 

disclose taxpayer information.

3

Businesses with home office expenses only relate to sole proprietors filing Schedule Cs.
Page 4 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Background IRS defines small businesses to include all partnerships, corporations, and 

S corporations with assets under $10 million, and all self-employed 

individuals also known as sole proprietorships.4

 Each form of business has 

distinctive legal characteristics that bring about different tax 

consequences. For example, corporations are taxed as separate entities 

distinct from their owners, with taxable dividends included in the 

shareholders’ income; income earned by S corporations and partnerships is 

passed through to their owners and taxed at the owners’ rates; and sole 

proprietorships are taxed as individuals.5

According to IRS’s data, a majority of small businesses are sole 

proprietorships. In calendar year 2003 about 20.4 million sole proprietors 

were expected to file tax returns. In addition, about 7 million of the 8.2 

million partnerships, corporations, and S corporations were expected to 

file tax returns had assets of less than $10 million. 

Sole proprietors report their business income to IRS on Form 1040, the 

individual income tax return. They are also required to attach the 

appropriate schedules for reporting income and expenses related to their 

business operations such as Schedule C and Schedule F.6

 Schedule C is 

preprinted with 24 expense categories including a separate line for 

taxpayers to record expenses for business use of their homes. Similarly, 

Schedule F has 25 expense categories. One of the expense categories on 

both schedules is for taxpayers to report any other expenses that do not 

generally fit within one of the itemized categories. In tax year 2001, about 

90 percent of the sole proprietors submitted Schedule Cs and about 10 

percent submitted Schedule Fs. 

4

Sole proprietors may employ individuals other than themselves to work in their business.

5

A limited liability company (LLC) may be classified for federal income tax purposes as a 

sole proprietorship, partnership, or a corporation. If the LLC has only one owner, it will 

automatically be considered to be a sole proprietorship, unless an election is made to be 

treated as a corporation.

6

Sole proprietors with a single business that had $2,500 or less in expenses and used the 

cash method for accounting purposes and had no inventory at any time during the year can 

use Schedule C-EZ provided they had no operating loss and met certain other criteria.
Page 5 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

The Most Commonly 

Claimed Categories of 

Expenses of Sole 

Proprietorships 

Figure 1 shows the 10 most commonly claimed categories of expenses that 

sole proprietorships reported on Schedule C. As illustrated, the most 

commonly claimed categories of expenses on Schedule Cs included Other 

expenses, Car/truck, Supplies, Utilities, Office, and Professional/legal. The 

percentage of taxpayers claiming these particular categories of expenses 

ranged from 73 percent for Other expenses to 48 percent for 

Professional/legal. While the information contained in IRS’s SOI database 

precluded us from determining the most common expenses that taxpayers 

reported on Schedule Fs, figure 2 shows the percentage of taxpayers 

claiming Schedule F expenses that SOI does individually track. The 

available data showed that more than half of the sole proprietors claimed 

expenses in the categories for Depreciation, Repairs, Gasoline/oil, and 

Supplies. We could not determine the most commonly reported expenses 

of taxpayers who filed Schedule F because IRS does not compile detailed 

information on 13 of the 25 expense categories on Schedule F.7

 Instead, the 

data on these 13 expense categories are aggregated with and reported in 

the Other expense category. Consequently, the value of the Other expense 

category is overstated. The tables in appendix II provide additional 

information on the percentage of taxpayers who claimed certain expense 

categories on Schedule Cs and Schedule Fs in tax years 2000 and 2001.

7

SOI officials stated that they do not compile information on each category of expenses on 

Schedule Fs because currently there is no requirement to do so.
Page 6 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 1: Ten Most Commonly Reported Expenses on Schedule C, Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Note: Insurance expense excludes accident and health insurance for employees.

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

90

100

80

Expense categories

Percentage of taxpayers 

2000

2001

Other Car/truck Supplies Utilities Office Legal/

professional 

services

Depreciation Taxes Insurance Meals/

entertainment

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.
Page 7 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 2: Reported Expenses Compiled by SOI from Schedule F, Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Note: Excludes the Other expenses category because SOI aggregates the 13 categories of expenses 

for which data are not individually compiled into the Other expenses category. 

Wide Variation in 

Amounts of Expenses 

Within and Across 

Expense Categories

The expenses reported by sole proprietorships on Schedule C and Schedule 

F varied widely across and within expense categories. The median dollar 

amounts for expenses varied extensively across expense categories as did 

the ranges of expenses reported on both schedules. For example, the 99th

percentile of expenses on Schedule C ranged from about $10,000 for 

Meals/entertainment to about $350,000 for Wages. Within an expense 

category, the data also showed wide variation. 

Figures 3 and 4 show the broad ranges of expenses that sole 

proprietorships reported on Schedule Cs and Schedule Fs in tax year 2001. 

The solid bars represent the ranges of expenses at the 10th and the 90th

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

90

100

80

Labor 

hired

Expense categories

Percentage of taxpayers

2000

2001

Depreciation Repairs Gasoline/oil Supplies Seeds/plants Custom hire Interest 

on other 

business 

debt

Interest 

on mortgage 

Employee 

benefit 

programs

Pension/profit 

sharing plans

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.
Page 8 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

percentiles and define the ranges where 80 percent of the expenses fell. 

For example, 80 percent of claims on Schedule C for Wage expenses fell 

between $895 at the 10th percentile and $99,163 at the 90th percentile. The 

lines that extend out from the ends of the bar show the range of the 

expenses to the 1st and 99th percentiles. For example, Wage expenses on 

Schedule C ranged from approximately $100 at the 1st percentile to about 

$350,000 at the 99th percentile. Like schedule C, the ranges of expenses on 

Schedule F varied widely. 
Page 9 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 3: Ranges of Expenses Reported on Schedule C, Tax Year 2001

Note: Insurance expense excludes accident and health insurance for employees.

111,058

105,218

349,469

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 350

Dollars in thousands

Advertising

Bad debts

Car/truck

Commissions

Depletion

Depreciation 

Employee benefits

Insurance

Interest on mortgage

Interest on other business debt

Legal/professional services

Office

Pension/profit sharing programs

Rent on machinery/equipment

Rent on other business property

Repairs

Supplies

Taxes

Travel

Meals/entertainment

Utilities

Wages

Other 

Home office

164,889

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Bars show values between the 10th and 90th percentiles and the lines extend the ranges to the 1st and 99th percentiles

Expense catagories
Page 10 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 4: Ranges of Expenses Reported on Schedule F Compiled by SOI, Tax Year 2001

Note: The Other expense category includes information on the Other expense category plus the 13 

categories of expenses for which IRS does not compile separate data.

Figure 5 shows the percentage distribution of taxpayers according to the 

aggregate amount of expenses they reported on Schedule C in tax year 

2001. As illustrated, the median expenses claimed were $8,968. This means 

that half of the taxpayers claimed less than $8,968 in total expenses while 

half claimed more. 

118,319

307,073

0 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 110 120 100 310

Custom hire 

Depreciation 

Employee benefit programs

Gasoline/oil 

Interest on mortgage

Interest on other business debt 

Labor hired 

Pension/profit sharing plans

Repairs 

Seeds/plants 

Supplies 

Other

10

Dollars in thousands

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Bars show values between the 10th and 90th percentiles and the lines extend the ranges to the 1st and 

99th percentiles

Expense catagories
Page 11 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 5: Percentage Distribution of Taxpayers According to Their Aggregate 

Expenses Reported on Schedule C, Tax Year 2001

Wide Variation in 

Expenses by Business 

Characteristics 

There was a high degree of variability in the amounts and ranges of 

expenses based on business size, industry category, businesses with 

inventories, and businesses with home offices.8

 

As Gross Receipts 

Increased, the Distribution 

of Expenses Remained 

Similar

To provide some perspective on how business expenses may differ 

between larger and smaller businesses, we used gross receipts as a 

measure of business size. Not surprisingly, sole proprietors with larger 

gross receipts generally claimed more expenses in the 10 most commonly 

claimed Schedule C categories than those with smaller gross receipts. 

While the amounts and ranges of expenses were larger as gross receipts 

increased, the distribution of expenses across expense categories generally 

remained similar. We analyzed information for three different size 

categories—(1) under $25,000 in gross receipts, which represented 61 

8,968

0

20

40

80

100

60

0 

Percentage

50,000 100,000 150,000 200,000 250,000 300,000 350,000

median mean

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

8

Comparable data on business characteristics were not available for sole proprietorships 

that filed Schedule F.
Page 12 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

percent of the sole proprietors who filed Schedule Cs, (2) between $25,000 

and $100,000 in gross receipts, which represented 25 percent of the sole 

proprietors who filed Schedule Cs, and (3) and over $100,000 in gross 

receipts, which represented 14 percent of the sole proprietors who filed 

Schedule Cs. Figure 6 compares the ranges of expenses across these three 

business sizes. Comparable information on gross receipts was not 

available for us to analyze farming expenses in this manner.
Page 13 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 6: Comparison of Ranges of the 10 Most Commonly Claimed Expenses on Schedule C Based On Gross Receipts, Tax 

Year 2001

Note: Table shows 10 most common expenses claimed by sole proprietors on Schedule C. Insurance 

expense excludes accident and health insurance for employees.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 340

Other

Car/truck

Supplies

Utilities

Office

Legal/profesional services

Depreciation

Taxes 

Insurance

Meals/entertainment

Other

Car/truck

Supplies

Utilities

Office

Legal/profesional services

Depreciation

Taxes 

Insurance

Meals/entertainment

Other

Car/truck

Supplies

Utilities

Office

Legal/profesional services

Depreciation

Taxes 

Insurance

Meals/entertainment

Less than $25,000

$25,000 to $100,000

More than $100,000

Dollars in thousands

330,173 

Bars show values between the 10th and 90th percentiles and the lines extend the ranges to the 1st and 

99th percentiles

Gross Receipts Expense catagories
Page 14 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Expenses Vary by Industry 

Category 

Figure 7 shows the total dollar amounts of expenses that sole proprietors 

reported on Schedule Cs and Schedule Fs by industry category in tax years 

2000 and 2001. In filling out their Schedule Cs, taxpayers are to select an 

industry category that best describes their business from the list of codes 

included in the schedule’s instructions. (See app. I for more information.) 

As illustrated by the figure, the total expenses that taxpayers claimed 

related to the farming industry on Schedule F were about 75 percent larger 

than the expenses for any other single industry category for Schedule C 

businesses. Figure 8 shows that variation exists in median expenses across 

industry categories. 
Page 15 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 7: Aggregate Expenses Greater Than 5 Billion Claimed on Schedule C and 

Schedule F by Industry Categories, Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Note: Expenses for the farming industry category were reported on the Schedule F. Expenses for all 

other industry categories were reported on the Schedule C.

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Wholesale trade

Agriculture/forestry

Manufacturing

Arts/recreation

Administrative/waste management

Accommodation/food services

Real estate/leasing

Finance/insurance

Other services

Transportation/warehousing

Retail trade

Health care/social assistance

Professional/technical

Construction

Farming (Schedule F)

Industry categories

Dollars in billions

2001

2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS’s data.
Page 16 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 8: Schedule C Industry Categories With Median Expenses $5,000 or More, 

Tax Years 2000 and 2001

0 5 10 15 20 25

Administrative/waste management

Arts/recreation

Retail trade

Mining

Professional/technical

Other services

Health care/social assistance

Wholesale trade

Utilities

Manufacturing

Agriculture/forestry

Construction

Real estate/leasing

Finance/insurance

Transportation/warehousing

Accommodation/food services

Industry categories

Dollars in thousands

2001

2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.
Page 17 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

In Six Industries, Sole 

Proprietorships With 

Inventory Had Significantly 

Higher Median Expenses 

Than Those Without 

Inventory 

All industries had some small businesses that maintained inventories. In 

only four industries, however—Retail trade, Accommodation/food 

services, Wholesale trade, and Manufacturing—did more than 15 percent of 

businesses have inventories in tax years 2000 and 2001. (See fig. 9.) 
Page 18 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 9: Businesses Maintaining Inventory by Industry Category, Tax Years 2000 

and 2001 (Schedule C)

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

Industry categories

Percentage

2000

2001

Religious/civic

Mining

Transportation/warehousing

Finance/insurance

Health care/social assistance

Real estate/leasing

Education services

Administrative/waste management 

Professional/technical

Construction

Unclassified

Agriculture/forestry

Arts/recreation

Information

Utilities

Other services

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Accommodation/food services

Retail trade

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.
Page 19 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 10 shows a comparison of median expenses of businesses by 

industry with and without inventory. The median expenses for businesses 

with inventory were significantly higher than those of businesses without 

an inventory for six industries—Accommodation/food services, Health 

care/social assistance, Mining, Transportation/warehousing, Construction, 

and Other services. 
Page 20 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 10: Median Expenses of Businesses Without and With Inventory by Industry, 

Tax Year 2001 (Schedule C) 

221

0 20 40 60 80 100 250

Industry categories

Dollars in thousands

Without

With

Unclassified

Education services

Arts/recreation

Professional/technical

Finance/insurance

Retail trade

Administrative/waste management 

Manufacturing

Agriculture/forestry

Information

Wholesale trade

Real estate/leasing

Other services

Construction

Transportation/warehousing

Accommodation/food services

Health care/social assistance

Mining

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.
Page 21 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Note: Two industries—Religious/civic and Utilities—are not included because reliable population 

estimates could not be developed. 

Sole Proprietorships 

Claiming Home Office 

Expense Generally Had 

Lower Median Expenses 

Than Those Without Home 

Offices

While all industries had some businesses with home offices, they were 

more prevalent in some industries. Health care/social assistance and 

Professional/technical had the highest percentage of Home office expenses 

claimed in tax years 2000 and 2001 (see fig. 11). Figure 12 shows the 

variation in the median amounts of Home office expense by industry in tax 

year 2001. Those businesses without home offices generally reported 

higher median expenses than those with home offices, although Office and 

Other expenses were higher for those businesses with a home office (see 

fig. 13). 
Page 22 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 11: Businesses Claiming Home Office Expenses by Industry, Tax Years 2000 

and 2001 (Schedule C)

Note: The Utilities industry was excluded from the analysis because it had less than 100 sample 

observations.

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Industry categories

Percentage

2000

2001

Mining

Unclassified

Religious/civic

Transportation/warehousing

Accommodation/food services

Agriculture/forestry

Other services

Retail trade

Arts/recreation

Finance/insurance

Construction

Real estate/leasing

Administrative/waste management

Education services

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Information

Professional/technical

Health care/social assistance

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data. 
Page 23 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 12: Median Home Office Expenses Reported on Schedule C by Industry 

Category, Tax Year 2001

Note: The Utilities industry was excluded from the analysis because it had less than 100 sample 

observations.

0 12 3

Industry categories

Dollars in thousands

Mining

Retail trade

Unclassified

Agriculture/forestry

Administrative/waste management

Transportation/warehousing

Real estate/leasing

Construction

Education services

Manufacturing

Other services

Religious/civic

Information

Professional/technical

Accommodation/food services

Finance/insurance

Arts/recreation

Wholesale trade

Health care/social assistance

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.
Page 24 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Figure 13: Median Business Expenses Claimed by Businesses With and Without 

Home Office Expense, Tax Year 2001 (Schedule C)

0 3 6 9 12 20

Expense categories

Dollars in thousands

With

Without

19.5

Advertising

Bad debts

Car/truck

Commissions

Depletion

Depreciation

Employee benefit programs

Insurance

Interest on mortgage

Interest on other business debt 

Legal/professional services

Office

Pension/profit sharing plans

Rent on machinery/equipment

Rent on other business property

Repairs

Supplies

Taxes

Travel

Meals/entertainment

Utilities

Wages

Other

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.
Page 25 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Appendix IV provides additional information on expenses of sole 

proprietors by the business characteristics described above.

Agency Comments IRS’s Director, Research, Analysis, and Statistics provided us written 

comments on a draft of this report in a January 13, 2004, letter, which is 

reprinted in appendix VI. The Director agreed that the tabulations in the 

report accurately reflect the SOI sample data for small business expenses 

claimed by taxpayers on Schedule Cs and Schedule Fs.

As agreed with your office, unless you announce the contents of this report 

earlier, we plan no further distribution of this report until 30 days from the 

date of this letter. At that time, we will send copies of this report to the 

Ranking Minority Member of your Committee, the Chairman and Ranking 

Minority Member of the House Committee on Small Business, the 

Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on 

Finance, and the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the House 

Committee on Ways and Means. We will also send copies to the Secretary 

of the Treasury, the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and the Director, 

Office of Management and Budget. Copies will be made available to others 

upon request. The report is also available on GAO’s home page at 

http://www.gao.gov.

If you have any questions concerning this report, please contact me or 

Charlie Daniel at (202) 512-9110. Key contributors to this work are listed in 

appendix VI.

Michael Brostek

Director, Tax Issues 
Page 26 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Appendix I

Objectives, Scope, and Methodology ApApenednxidexiIs

Our objective was to provide descriptive information on (1) the most 

commonly reported categories of expenses of small business taxpayers 

operating as sole proprietorships, (2) the amount of variation within and 

across expense categories, and (3) the expenses based on selected 

business characteristics such as size, industry, businesses with inventories, 

and businesses with home offices. 

To address our objective, we obtained information from IRS’s nonpublic 

use SOI databases of individual income tax returns that reported expenses 

for small business sole proprietorship on Schedules C and Schedule F for 

tax years 2000 and 2001. These years were the most recent that data were 

available. SOI’s nonpublic use databases differs from its public use 

databases in that they contain more detailed data, some of which could be 

associated to specific taxpayers. According to IRS, the SOI databases were 

compiled from transaction file records created when IRS processed 

individual income tax returns. The statistics compiled by SOI are estimates 

from a stratified probability sample of unaudited individual income tax 

returns filed during calendar years 2001 (for tax year 2000) and 2002 (for 

tax year 2001). IRS excluded tentative and amended tax returns from the 

database. Tentative returns were excluded because the revised returns 

may have been sampled later and amended returns were excluded because 

the original returns had already been subjected to sampling. The sample 

was stratified on the basis of subpopulation groups called strata, and a 

sample was randomly selected independently from each stratum. For 

example, one stratum is for the presence of both Schedule F and Schedule 

C.

To assess the reliability of IRS’s SOI individual income tax return 

databases, we followed our guidance for assessing the reliability of 

computerized databases.1

 In particular, we (1) performed electronic 

testing for obvious errors in the accuracy and completeness of the data, (2) 

reviewed the SOI dataset documentation, and (3) interviewed IRS officials 

knowledgeable about the data to gain an understanding of the internal 

procedures that were in place to ensure data quality. According to SOI, the 

data derived from the tax returns were subjected to a number of validation 

and consistency checks, including systematic verifications of some work of 

each tax examiner involved in the SOI processes to compile the databases. 

Most of the data validation checks were computerized tests of records. 

1

U.S. General Accounting Office, Assessing the Reliability of Computer-Processed Data 

(External version1), GAO-03-273G (Washington, D.C.: October 2002).
Appendix I

Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

Page 27 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

While we found the data reliable for the purpose of our engagement, we 

noted limitations of the database. In particular, SOI data contain 

information as reported by taxpayers on their income tax returns that may 

not have been subjected to much of IRS’s internal accuracy checks such as 

the document matching of information returns. In addition, IRS does not 

separately transcribe all of the detailed expense information from Schedule 

F like it does for the Schedule C. Consequently, we could not provide the 

same level of detailed information on expenses relating to Schedule F as 

we could for Schedule C tax returns. 

To determine the most commonly reported expenses of small business sole 

proprietorships, we estimated the percent of taxpayers who reported a 

nonzero value in each expense category listed on the Schedule Cs and 

Schedule Fs. We excluded taxpayers who filed Schedule C-E, because that 

form does not have itemized expenses. We also excluded taxpayers who 

filed Schedule Cs or Schedule Fs but did not list any itemized expenses on 

them. Because IRS does not compile information on all of the expense 

categories on Schedule F, we were unable to precisely determine what 

were the most commonly reported categories of expenses. Of the 25 

categories of expenses on Schedule F, IRS only compiles detailed 

information on 12 categories. The SOI databases combine information on 

the remaining 13 expenses and reports them as a single amount under the 

Other expenses category on Schedule F. As shown in table 2 in appendix II, 

the Other expenses category represented about 51 percent of the expenses 

reported by taxpayers on Schedule F in tax year 2001. However, we used 

IRS’s available data to provide some perspective on the percent of 

taxpayers who filed Schedule Fs that reported nonzero values in the 

expense categories where data were available. This information was not 

sufficient for us to rank the categories and present reliable information on 

the most commonly claimed expenses. 

To provide information on the amount of variation within and across 

expense categories, we summarized information on the dollar amounts of 

expenses from IRS’s SOI individual databases that reported expenses of 

small business sole proprietorships and estimated the population mean and 

median values. We also estimated population percentile values of the 

business expense categories on Schedule Cs and Schedule Fs. We 

estimated values for the 1st, 10th, 50th, 90th, and 99th percentiles. Our 

information on Schedule F taxpayers was limited to those expense 

categories for which IRS had data. To mitigate the possibility of presenting 

unusual outliers and to ensure that we do not disclose taxpayer 
Appendix I

Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

Page 28 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

information, we do not provide the minimum and maximum values. Rather 

we provide estimates of the 1st and 99th percentiles. 

To provide information on the selected business characteristics that you 

requested, we estimated population expense values based on business size, 

industry category, businesses maintaining inventory, and businesses with 

home offices. We also included information on businesses operating farms 

and agricultural enterprises. To perform our analysis of business expenses 

based on the size of businesses, we used different levels of gross receipts 

as the measure for size. To determine industry categories, we collected 

information from IRS’s SOI databases by the principal business codes as 

reported by taxpayers. Taxpayers were to determine their principal 

business codes from the North American Industry Classification System 

information in the instructions for the tax forms. 

To provide information on the cost of goods sold for businesses with 

inventories and information on depreciation expenses by industry 

categories, we estimated population values for different categories of 

industries. 

Because the SOI data are a sample, the population estimates made from 

that data are subject to some imprecision owing to sampling variability. We 

express our confidence in the precision of the sample’s results as a 95 

percent confidence interval of plus or minus some percentage for sampling 

errors. The sampling errors associated with our population estimates are 

listed with each table in the appendixes. Further, for some entries in some 

tables there were too few observations or too much sample variation to 

generate reliable population estimates. In these cases the estimates are 

omitted.

We did our work at IRS headquarters in Washington, D.C. between April 

2003 and October 2003 in accordance with generally accepted government 

auditing standards. 
Page 29 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Appendix II

Information on the Percent of Taxpayers Who 

Claimed Expenses on Schedule C and 

Schedule F in Tax Years 2000 and 2001 ApendxiI

This appendix provides complete information on the percentage of 

taxpayers who claimed expenses in the categories of expenses listed on 

Schedule C and on Schedule F, to the extent that data on farming expenses 

were available. It also provides information that shows how each 

individual expense category compares as a percentage of the total 

expenses
Appendix II

Information on the Percent of Taxpayers Who 

Claimed Expenses on Schedule C and 

Schedule F in Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Page 30 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 1: Percentage of Taxpayers Who Claimed Expense Categories on Schedule C, Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Notes: Estimates in the first and third columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 2 percentage points or 

less. Estimates in the second and fourth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of 

the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate.

c

Totals may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

Expense category

2000 2001

Percentage of 

taxpayers who 

claimed expense

Expense as 

percentage of 

total expenses

Percentage of 

taxpayers who 

claimed expense

Expense as 

percentage of 

total expenses

Advertising 35.3 2.4 35.1 2.5

Bad debts 2.6 0.2a 2.8 0.3b

Car/truck 71.5 10.9 71.0 10.9

Commissions 7.9 2.8 7.8 2.8

Depletion 0.6 0.2a 0.6 0.2a

Depreciation 44.5 7.7 43.1 7.7

Employee benefit programs 2.3 0.4 2.2 0.5

Insurance 37.9 3.3 37.1 3.3

Interest on mortgage 5.7 1.3 5.6 1.3

Interest on other business debt 13.6 1.7 13.2 1.6

Legal/professional services 48.0 1.8 47.9 1.7

Office 49.7 2.5 49.5 2.4

Pension/profit sharing plans 1.1 0.2a 1.1 0.2a

Rent on machinery/equipment 15.2 2.1 15.1 2.0

Rent on other business property 20.4 5.8 19.7 5.8

Repairs 31.2 2.9 30.5 2.8

Supplies 56.1 5.2 56.4 5.3

Taxes 40.9 3.3 40.1 3.3

Travel 26.6 2.0 26.8 2.0

Meals/entertainment 35.8 1.1 36.2 1.1

Utilities 54.0 4.6 53.5 4.7

Wages 10.7 15.2 10.1 14.7

Other 72.8 20.8 72.3 21.8

Home office 15.6 1.4 16.4 1.4

Totalc 100% 100%
Appendix II

Information on the Percent of Taxpayers Who 

Claimed Expenses on Schedule C and 

Schedule F in Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Page 31 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 2: Percentage of Taxpayers Who Claimed Expense Categories on Schedule F, Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first and third columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 3 percentage points or less. 

Estimates in the second and fourth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the 

value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Included with Other expenses.

b

Includes: Car/truck, Chemicals, Conservation, Feed purchased, Fertilizers/lime, Freight/trucking, 

Insurance, Rent on machinery/equipment, Rent on other business property, Storage/warehousing, 

Taxes, Utilities, and Veterinary/medicine as well as any expenses taxpayers included in the Other 

expenses category.

Expense category

2000 2001

Percentage of 

taxpayers who 

claimed expense

Expense as 

percentage of 

total expenses

Percentage of 

taxpayers who 

claimed expense

Expense as 

percentage of 

total expenses

Car/truck a a

Chemicals a a

Conservation a a

Custom hire 30.9 2.7 31.2 2.6

Depreciation 78.3 15.7 78.7 16.1

Employee benefit programs 2.2 0.3c 2.5 0.3c

Feed purchased a a

Fertilizers/lime a a

Freight/trucking a a

Gasoline/oil 64.1 3.8 65.4 3.7

Insurance a a

Interest on mortgage 24.1 4.0 25.5 4.1

Interest on other business debt 30.0 4.3 30.5 4.1

Labor hired 24.9 4.9 25.3 4.9

Pension/profit sharing plans 0.2 0.0d 0.2 0.0

Rent on machinery/equipment a a

Rent on other business property a a

Repairs 73.8 6.5 72.8 6.5

Seeds/plants 39.0 3.8 37.3 3.8

Storage/warehousing a a

Supplies 63.5 3.4 62.9 3.1

Taxes a a

Utilities a a

Veterinary/medicine a a

Other expensesb 97.3 50.8 97.1 50.8

Totale 100% 100%
Appendix II

Information on the Percent of Taxpayers Who 

Claimed Expenses on Schedule C and 

Schedule F in Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Page 32 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

 cSampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling errors exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Totals may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
Page 33 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Appendix III

Information on the Amounts and Ranges of 

Expenses Reported on Schedule C and 

Schedule F ApendxiI

As we reported earlier, the amounts and ranges of expenses that sole 

proprietors reported on Schedule Cs and Schedule Fs varied widely. This 

appendix provides greater detail on these measures. In particular, the 

tables in the appendix provide information on the percentile ranges for the 

expenses. To mitigate the possibility of presenting unusual outliers and 

because of taxpayer disclosure concerns, we do not provide the minimum 

and maximum values. Rather we provide estimates of the 1st and 99th

percentiles. Estimates of the mean and median expenses are also provided.
Appendix III

Information on the Amounts and Ranges of 

Expenses Reported on Schedule C and 

Schedule F

Page 34 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 3: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Amount and Range, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, second, fifth, and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or 

less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column have sampling 

errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the 

fourth column have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless 

otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown. 

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

2000

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Advertising $10,148,616 $2.0 $0.01 $0.05 $0.46 $4.44 $22.45

Bad debts 983,868b 2.6b 0.01d 0.06c 0.49b 4.50c 30.55

Car/truck 45,711,214 4.4 0.05 0.29 2.36 9.75 32.56

Commissions 11,610,550 10.1 0.01e 0.08c 1.09b 19.35c 139.77

Depletion 684,974b 8.1c 0.01e 0.07d 1.05d 14.51d 110.57

Depreciation 32,196,152 5.0 0.02e 0.22 1.83 11.74 42.73

Employee benefit programs 1,871,875 5.7 0.05d 0.41c 2.85b 12.69b 36.21

Insurance 13,623,747 2.5 0.04 0.17 0.95 5.66 22.76

Interest on mortgage 5,250,896 6.3 0.04d 0.43 2.78 13.37b 55.44

Interest on other business debt 6,981,950 3.6 0.01d 0.11 1.08 7.12 31.72

Legal/professional services 7,312,591 1.0 0.02 0.07 0.25 1.93 12.00

Office 10,456,413 1.4 0.01 0.06 0.45 3.41 15.26

Pension/profit sharing plans 892,873 5.8 0.01e 0.40c 3.52b 12.86b 40.03

Rent on machinery/equipment 8,880,267 4.0 0.03 0.12 1.47 9.07b 35.18

Rent on other business property 24,342,102 8.2 0.04 0.41 4.02 18.98 60.41

Repairs 12,280,522 2.7 0.02 0.09 0.82 6.30 28.28

Supplies 21,793,943 2.7 0.02 0.10 0.80 5.39 29.67

Taxes 13,955,915 2.4 0.01 0.04 0.34 5.69 29.21

Travel 8,457,309 2.2 0.02 0.12 0.84 4.96 19.87

Meals/entertainment 4,664,691 0.9 0.01 0.04 0.33 2.28 7.29

Utilities 19,381,870 2.5 0.02 0.18 1.09 5.84 19.19

Wages 63,485,482 40.8 0.12 1.03c 16.37 96.47 330.87

Other 87,025,927 8.2 0.02 0.17 1.58 14.04 96.40

Home office 5,642,543 2.5 0.07 0.37 1.54 5.59 13.66

All categories $417,636,291f $28.8 $0.10 $1.03 $8.80 $62.23 $316.05
Appendix III

Information on the Amounts and Ranges of 

Expenses Reported on Schedule C and 

Schedule F

Page 35 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling errors exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

f

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix III

Information on the Amounts and Ranges of 

Expenses Reported on Schedule C and 

Schedule F

Page 36 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 4: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Amount and Range, Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, second, fifth, and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or 

less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column have sampling 

errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the 

fourth column have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless 

otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown.

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

2001

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Advertising $10,774,079 $2.1 $0.01 $0.05 $0.47 $4.62 $22.71

Bad debts 1,176,324c 2.8c 0.02e 0.05c 0.50c 4.47c 25.42

Car/truck 47,351,940 4.5 0.04 0.31 2.48 10.02 32.31

Commissions 12,130,077 10.5 0.02 0.10 1.19b 17.14c 164.89

Depletion 693,669b 7.8b 0.00e 0.08d 1.36c 11.91d 111.06

Depreciation 33,425,567 5.2 0.03 0.21 1.83 12.02 46.13

Employee benefit programs 2,040,639 6.4 0.08 0.46c 3.45b 13.53b 37.16

Insurance 14,367,018 2.6 0.03 0.19 1.01 5.97 24.08

Interest on mortgage 5,456,226 6.6 0.02d 0.45 2.86 14.31b 55.44

Interest on other business debt 7,053,321 3.6 0.01 0.11 1.10 7.48 31.88

Legal/professional services 7,482,619 1.1 0.02 0.07 0.25 1.87 12.37

Office 10,604,805 1.4 0.01 0.06 0.45 3.27 15.90

Pension/profit sharing plans 991,892b 6.0 0.00e 0.34d 3.15b 13.10b 43.73

Rent on machinery/equipment 8,522,008 3.8 0.02 0.13 1.35b 8.31b 37.53

Rent on other business property 25,119,124 8.6 0.04 0.43 4.16 20.05 64.49

Repairs 12,129,756 2.7 0.02 0.09 0.77 6.28 27.65

Supplies 23,074,836 2.8 0.02c 0.11 0.78 5.49 32.11

Taxes 14,214,082 2.4 0.01 0.04 0.35 5.65 29.96

Travel 8,657,266 2.2 0.02 0.11 0.83 4.98 20.22

Meals/entertainment 4,735,312 0.9 0.01 0.04 0.34 2.19 7.14

Utilities 20,482,680 2.6 0.03 0.19 1.15 5.97 21.07

Wages 63,826,020 42.5 0.10d 0.90c 17.52 99.16 349.47

Other 94,612,276 8.8 0.02 0.19 1.71 14.81 105.22

Home office 5,981,403 2.5 0.06 0.38 1.54 5.55 13.10

All categories $434,902,937f $29.3 $0.10e $1.04 $8.97 $62.05 $318.88
Appendix III

Information on the Amounts and Ranges of 

Expenses Reported on Schedule C and 

Schedule F

Page 37 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

f

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix III

Information on the Amounts and Ranges of 

Expenses Reported on Schedule C and 

Schedule F

Page 38 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 5: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule F Compiled by SOI by Amount and Range, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first and second columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the 

value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third and fourth columns have 

sampling errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

Estimates in the fifth and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of 

the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown. 

b

Includes: Car/truck, Chemicals, Conservation, Feed purchased, Fertilizers/lime, Freight/trucking, 

Insurance, Rent on machinery/equipment, Rent on other business property, Storage/warehousing, 

Taxes, Utilities, and Veterinary/medicine as well as any expenses taxpayers included in the Other 

expenses category.

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

f

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

2000

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Custom hire $2,763,207 $4.4 $0.05 $0.18 $1.21 $10.30 $43.22

Depreciation 16,074,177 10.1 0.05 0.37 3.76 24.62 79.77

Employee benefit programs 296,282c 6.6c 0.20f 0.81e 5.54d 12.21 35.87

Gasoline/oil 3,843,670 2.9 0.02 0.10 1.00 7.22 29.39

Interest on mortgage 4,072,378 8.3 0.10e 0.62 3.87 18.52 70.24

Interest on other business debt 4,381,129 7.2 0.03e 0.32 2.22 16.70 65.41

Labor hired 4,977,414 9.8 0.03 0.11e 1.50d 19.72d 114.68

Pension/profit sharing plans 30,525f 7.7f 0.16f 0.31f 1.48e 15.94e 66.76

Repairs 6,651,168 4.4 0.02e 0.20 1.47 10.70 41.68

Seeds/plants 3,848,517 4.9 0.01e 0.10 1.09d 11.60 53.24

Supplies 3,425,979 2.7 0.01e 0.11 0.81 5.89 24.70

Other expensesb 51,903,473 26.2 0.07e 0.73 5.61 58.54 290.44

All categories $102,267,920 $50.3 $0.11e $1.66 $12.77 $120.19 $535.15
Appendix III

Information on the Amounts and Ranges of 

Expenses Reported on Schedule C and 

Schedule F

Page 39 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 6: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule F Compiled by SOI by Amount and Range, Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in first and second columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the 

value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third and fourth columns have 

sampling errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

Estimates in the fifth and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of 

the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

For the estimates in the seventh column, we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual 

percentile is at least 80 percent of the estimate shown. 

b

Includes: Car/truck, Chemicals, Conservation, Feed purchased, Fertilizers/lime, Freight/trucking, 

Insurance, Rent on machinery/equipment, Rent on other business property, Storage/warehousing, 

Taxes, Utilities, and Veterinary/medicine as well as any expenses taxpayers included in the Other 

expenses category.

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

f

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

2001

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Custom hire $2,754,246 $4.4 $0.04 $0.18 $1.35 $10.02 $49.11

Depreciation 17,173,495 11.0 0.06f 0.40 4.28 29.44 86.14

Employee benefit programs 321,002d 6.5c 0.07f 0.63e 4.96d 12.38d 26.81

Gasoline/oil 3,937,424 3.0 0.02 0.10 0.97 7.73 29.29

Interest on mortgage 4,407,472 8.7 0.07e 0.52 4.02 20.73 68.43

Interest on other business debt 4,420,903 7.3 0.04e 0.27 2.21 17.72 67.17

Labor hired 5,235,195 10.4 0.02f 0.15 1.41d 22.31d 118.32

Pension/profit sharing plans 11,593d 2.9d 0.11f 0.27e 1.12e 5.78e 32.29

Repairs 6,893,101 4.8 0.03 0.22 1.63 11.64 43.88

Seeds/plants 4,076,730 5.5 0.02e 0.10 1.30d 13.25 59.03

Supplies 3,335,593 2.7 0.02e 0.12 0.88 6.17 26.63

Other expensesb 54,241,466 28.0 0.10 0.84 6.02 61.90 307.07

All categories $106,808,219 $53.6 $0.10e $1.70 $13.41 $128.29 $561.95
Page 40 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics ApendxiIV

As discussed previously, the data showed wide variability in the expenses 

of sole proprietorships based on business characteristics such as size 

(measured in gross receipts), industry category, businesses with 

inventories, and businesses with home offices. This appendix provides 

detailed information on Schedule C expenses by these business 

characteristics. Comparable data on Schedule F expenses were not 

available.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 41 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 7: Percentage of Taxpayers Who Claimed Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Business Gross Receipts, 

Tax Year 2000 

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, third, and fifth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 2 percentage points or 

less. Estimates in the second, fourth, and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or 

less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate.

Expense category

Business gross receipts 

Under $25,000 $25,000 to $100,000 Over $100,000

Percentage 

of taxpayers 

who claimed 

expense

Expense 

category as 

percentage

of total 

expenses 

 Percentage 

of taxpayers 

who claimed 

expense

Expense 

category as 

percentage

of total 

expenses

Percentage 

of taxpayers 

who claimed 

expense

Expense 

category as 

percentage

of total 

expenses

Advertising 24.3 1.9 44.7 2.5 66.4 2.5

Bad debts 1.7 0.4c 3.0 0.2b 6.3 0.2a

Car/truck 65.1 21.7 81.2 18.5 81.6 5.7

Commissions 5.6 1.4b 9.8 1.9a 14.5 3.4

Depletion 0.7 0.2c 0.4 0.1c 0.6 0.2b

Depreciation 33.8 9.3 53.7 9.0 74.2 6.9

Employee benefit programs 0.3 0.1c 1.3 0.1b 12.7 0.6

Insurance 21.3 2.3 54.4 3.2 80.0 3.5

Interest on mortgage 2.4 1.0b 7.1 1.1a 17.8 1.4

Interest on other business debt 5.7 1.7b 18.6 1.4a 38.9 1.8

Legal/professional services 35.8 2.1 60.4 1.7 78.7 1.7

Office 39.5 3.3 59.9 3.0 75.7 2.1

Pension/profit sharing plans 0.2 0.1c 0.5 0.1c 6.0 0.3

Rent on machinery/equipment 7.9 2.2a 21.5 2.7a 35.7 1.9

Rent on other business property 11.9 4.9 26.5 6.4 46.7 5.8

Repairs 19.4 2.5a 41.4 3.5 64.1 2.8

Supplies 52.4 8.6 60.8 6.6 63.3 4.0

Taxes 27.8 1.3 51.5 2.0 78.8 4.3

Travel 21.4 3.8 31.2 2.7 40.8 1.4

Meals/entertainment 27.8 2.0 44.7 1.7 54.4 0.7

Utilities 40.0 5.1 70.0 5.5 85.6 4.2

Wages 2.3 1.5b 11.8 4.5a 46.0 22.2

Other 63.2 19.0 84.3 19.1 93.5 21.9

Home office 13.2 3.5 21.3 2.6 15.5 0.4a

Totald 100% 100% 100%
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 42 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

CSampling errors exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Totals may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 43 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 8: Percentage of Taxpayers Who Claimed Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Business Gross Receipts, 

Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data. 

Note: Estimates in the first, third, and fifth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 2 percentage points or 

less. Estimates in the second, fourth, and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or 

less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate.

Expense category

Business gross receipts amount

Under $25,000 $25,000 to $100,000 Over $100,000

Percentage 

of taxpayers 

who claimed 

expense

Expense as 

percentage 

of total 

expenses 

Percentage 

of taxpayers 

who claimed 

expense

Expense as 

percentage 

of total 

expenses

Percentage of 

taxpayers 

who claimed 

expense

Expense as 

percentage 

of total 

expenses

Advertising 25.1 2.0 43.1 2.6 64.9 2.5

Bad debts 2.0 0.5b 2.6 0.1b 6.8 0.3b

Car/truck 64.7 21.5 80.9 18.8 80.5 5.6

Commissions 5.3 1.2b 10.1 2.0a 14.6 3.4

Depletion 0.6 0.1b 0.5 0.1c 0.7 0.2a

Depreciation 32.7 9.5 51.6 8.5 73.9 7.0

Employee benefit programs 0.3 0.1b 1.3 0.1b 12.3 0.7

Insurance 20.6 2.3 54.1 3.2 79.2 3.6

Interest on mortgage 2.3 1.1b 6.9 1.1a 17.8 1.4

Interest on other business debt 5.7 1.4b 17.7 1.3a 38.1 1.8

Legal/professional services 36.2 2.1 59.5 1.6 78.8 1.7

Office 39.5 3.2 59.7 2.9 75.3 2.1

Pension/profit sharing plans 0.2 0.0c 0.6 0.1c 6.2 0.3

Rent on machinery/equipment 8.2 2.1a 20.7 2.5a 35.3 1.8

Rent on other business property 11.4 4.6 26.0 6.3 45.3 5.9

Repairs 19.7 2.6 39.5 3.3 62.5 2.6

Supplies 53.3 8.4 60.3 7.0 63.2 4.0

Taxes 27.4 1.4 50.7 1.9 76.9 4.2

Travel 21.9 3.9 31.1 2.7 41.1 1.3

Meals/entertainment 27.8 1.8 46.5 1.7 54.4 0.7

Utilities 40.2 5.3 68.4 5.6 85.7 4.3

Wages 2.3 1.5b 10.9 4.4a 43.8 21.5

Other 63.1 19.7 83.0 19.8 93.7 22.9

Home office 14.2 3.6 21.2 2.4 17.5 0.5a

Totald 100% 100% 100%
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 44 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

CSampling errors exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Totals may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 45 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 9: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Business Gross Receipts, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in all columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

Business gross receipts total

Under $25,000 $25,000 to $100,000 Over $100,000

2000 2001 2000 2001 2000 2001

Advertising $1,115,436 $1,267,229 $2,387,850 $2,591,984 $6,645,329 $6,914,866 

Bad debts 217,234b 303,444b 170,641b 145,056b 595,992a 727,824b

Car/truck 12,662,766 13,516,802 18,047,208 18,616,606 15,001,240 15,218,532 

Commissions 815,056b 763,945b 1,857,395a 1,981,873a 8,938,100 9,384,259 

Depletion 88,207b 78,953b 95,628b 116,199b 501,139a 498,517a

Depreciation 5,419,350 6,001,607 8,794,872 8,451,676 17,981,931 18,972,284 

Employee benefit programs 74,362c 57,738b 138,365b 131,358b 1,659,148 1,851,542 

Insurance 1,330,836 1,449,294 3,118,389 3,190,042 9,174,522 9,727,682 

Interest on mortgage 566,888a 689,164b 1,060,497a 1,073,733a 3,623,511 3,693,329 

Interest on other business debt 978,781b 910,187b 1,360,883a 1,278,587a 4,642,285 4,864,547 

Legal/professional services 1,232,327 1,316,971 1,622,574 1,559,789 4,457,689 4,605,859 

Office 1,933,877 2,000,186 2,900,183 2,909,072 5,622,354 5,695,547 

Pension/profit sharing plans 38,274c 27,496c 50,457c 70,066c 804,142 894,330 

Rent on machinery/equipment 1,290,642a 1,307,168a 2,612,902a 2,431,023a 4,976,723 4,783,816 

Rent on other business property 2,832,479 2,922,305 6,188,327 6,240,658 15,321,295 15,956,161 

Repairs 1,471,137a 1,622,908 3,401,489 3,306,118 7,407,896 7,200,730 

Supplies 5,013,068 5,323,414 6,405,253 6,945,572 10,375,621 10,805,850 

Taxes 778,489 906,450 1,950,810 1,904,286 11,226,616 11,403,346 

Travel 2,238,733 2,434,854 2,658,219 2,660,376 3,560,357 3,562,036 

Meals/entertainment 1,158,258 1,134,275 1,669,707 1,725,173 1,836,726 1,875,864 

Utilities 2,976,362 3,327,822 5,334,535 5,514,404 11,070,973 11,640,455 

Wages 871,086b 918,960b 4,425,092a 4,340,403a 58,189,304 58,566,657 

Other 11,081,586 12,432,885 18,606,347 19,608,587 57,337,994 62,570,804 

Home office 2,064,635 2,294,004 2,498,346 2,396,990 1,079,562a 1,290,409a

Totald $58,249,869 $63,008,061 $97,355,972 $99,189,633 $262,030,451 $272,705,243 
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 46 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

d

Totals may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 47 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 10: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, second, and fourth through sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 

percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column 

have sampling errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown, unless otherwise noted. 

b

Population estimates could not be developed. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

Business gross receipts under $25,000

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Advertising $1,115,436 $0.52 $0.01 $0.04 $0.22 $1.26 4.79

Bad debts 217,234c 1.48c 0.01d 0.04d 0.24d 2.47d 19.88e

Car/truck 12,662,766 2.22 0.03 0.18 1.29 5.28 13.26

Commissions 815,056c 1.66c 0.01 0.04d 0.42c 3.22c 15.86

Depletion 88,207c 1.55c 0.01 0.05d 0.46d 2.99d 20.30

Depreciation 5,419,350 1.83 0.02 0.13 0.93 4.19 12.77

Employee benefit programs 74,362d 2.70c b 0.16e 1.37d 5.43d 41.80

Insurance 1,330,836 0.71 0.02 0.10 0.43 1.56 4.51

Interest on mortgage 566,888 2.71 0.03e 0.15d 1.51c 5.50c 26.40

Interest on other business debt 978,781c 1.97c 0.01d 0.07c 0.54 2.55c 12.01

Legal/professional services 1,232,327 0.39 0.02 0.05 0.15 0.70 3.33

Office 1,933,877 0.56 0.01f 0.04 0.25 1.35 4.29

Pension/profit sharing plans 38,274e 2.81d b 0.04d 0.42d 6.60d 25.08e

Rent on machinery/equipment 1,290,642 1.87 0.02d 0.10c 0.78c 4.78 13.00

Rent on other business property 2,832,479 2.72 0.03d 0.19c 1.80 6.12 15.11

Repairs 1,471,137 0.86 0.02 0.06 0.37 1.85 6.67

Supplies 5,013,068 1.09 0.01 0.07 0.50 2.75 7.97

Taxes 778,489 0.32 0.01 0.02 0.13 0.75 2.50

Travel 2,238,733 1.19 0.01d 0.10 0.55 2.67 8.42

Meals/entertainment 1,158,258 0.47 0.01 0.03 0.19 1.12 4.27

Utilities 2,976,362 0.85 0.01 0.10 0.53 1.93 4.87

Wages 871,086c 4.39c 0.03d 0.20d 1.42c 7.61c 36.23

Other 11,081,586 2.00 0.02 0.10 0.78 4.22 14.74

Home office 2,064,635 1.78 0.04d 0.28 1.17 3.92 9.60

All categories $58,249,869f $6.64 $0.06 $0.60 $4.20 $14.52 $32.42
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 48 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

f

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 49 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 11: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in first and second columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the 

value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column have sampling errors of 

(+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the fourth, 

fifth, and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates 

unless otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown, unless otherwise noted. 

b

Population estimates could not be developed. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

Business gross receipts $25,000 to $100,000

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Advertising $2,387,850 $1.43 $0.02f $0.08 $0.58 $3.72 $10.97

Bad debts 170,641d 1.53d 0.01f 0.05e 0.40e 3.00e 11.24f

Car/truck 18,047,208 5.92 0.13 0.86 4.11 12.76 30.94

Commissions 1,857,395c 5.06c 0.02f 0.17e 1.66d 15.18d 36.45

Depletion 95,628d 6.03d 0.06f 0.16e 4.67d 14.52d 31.01

Depreciation 8,794,872 4.37 0.04 0.32 2.42 10.70 27.28

Employee benefit programs 138,365d 2.79d 0.10f 0.43e 1.96d 5.68e 12.28f

Insurance 3,118,389 1.53 0.05 0.21 0.91 3.64 7.96

Interest on mortgage 1,060,497c 3.99c 0.04f 0.43d 2.27d 9.28d 27.65

Interest on other business debt 1,360,883c 1.95c 0.01e 0.13d 0.92 4.41 13.75

Legal/professional services 1,622,574 0.72 0.04 0.09 0.26 1.32 8.04

Office 2,900,183 1.29 0.02 0.09 0.58 3.19 9.86

Pension/profit sharing plans 50,457e 2.48d b 0.32f 1.47e 6.00d 9.08f

Rent on machinery/equipment 2,612,902c 3.23 0.02 0.12d 1.40 8.17d 21.82

Rent on other business property 6,188,327 6.22 0.07 0.53d 4.75 14.00 25.40

Repairs 3,401,489 2.19 0.02 0.12 0.99 5.73 16.13

Supplies 6,405,253 2.81 0.02 0.18 1.21 6.73 22.83

Taxes 1,950,810 1.01 0.01 0.05 0.42 2.60 7.38

Travel 2,658,219 2.27 0.02 0.13 1.03 5.52 16.42

Meals/entertainment 1,669,707 1.00 0.01e 0.07 0.44 2.54 6.62

Utilities 5,334,535 2.03 0.06 0.33 1.40 4.34 10.60

Wages 4,425,092c 9.96 0.15e 0.77e 6.36d 23.68 48.29

Other 18,606,347 5.89 0.05 0.39 2.62 14.38 48.09

Home office 2,498,346 3.13 0.12e 0.56 2.00 6.95 15.16

All categories $97,355,972g $25.95 $1.40 $7.03 $21.13 $50.09 $90.35
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 50 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

f

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

g

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 51 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 12: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, second, and fifth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less 

of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column have sampling 

errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the 

fourth and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates 

unless otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown. 

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

Business gross receipts over $100,000

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Advertising $6,645,329 $5.04 $0.03 $0.19 $1.72 $11.41 $47.45

Bad debts 595,992b 4.76b 0.01e 0.10d 1.07c 6.35c 67.16

Car/truck 15,001,240 9.26 0.16 1.16 5.14 17.88 63.58

Commissions 8,938,100 31.03 0.02e 0.21c 5.70c 67.27c 382.23

Depletion 501,139b 41.69c 0.03d 0.45d 13.47d 84.54c 408.86

Depreciation 17,981,931 12.21 0.10e 0.85 5.46 27.40 90.85

Employee benefit programs 1,659,148 6.57 0.05d 0.50c 3.70b 13.65 40.12

Insurance 9,174,522 5.77 0.13 0.65 3.17 12.76 40.82

Interest on mortgage 3,623,511 10.26 0.10d 0.80c 4.80b 21.93 86.74

Interest on other business debt 4,642,285 6.01 0.01d 0.22c 2.17b 12.03 51.52

Legal/professional services 4,457,689 2.85 0.06 0.18 0.92 5.37 27.03

Office 5,622,354 3.74 0.03 0.21 1.63 8.88 29.80

Pension/profit sharing plans 804,142 6.76 0.05e 0.69c 4.25b 14.32 43.01

Rent on machinery/equipment 4,976,723 7.02 0.04 0.23 2.75b 15.44 64.97

Rent on other business property 15,321,295 16.53 0.10d 1.38c 10.20 35.20 99.43

Repairs 7,407,896 5.82 0.03 0.21 2.14 14.12 53.38

Supplies 10,375,621 8.26 0.04 0.35 2.49 18.03 99.32

Taxes 11,226,616 7.18 0.03 0.24 3.30 16.54 55.62

Travel 3,560,357 4.39 0.03 0.20 1.69 10.02 40.85

Meals/entertainment 1,836,726 1.70 0.01 0.09 0.74b 4.50 11.45

Utilities 11,070,973 6.52 0.20 1.00 4.40 13.38 36.51

Wages 58,189,304 63.77 0.61d 5.55c 35.68 132.72 427.62

Other 57,337,994 30.89 0.12 1.01 8.56 58.00 311.15

Home office 1,079,562b 3.51 0.14e 0.68 2.42b 7.44 19.26

All categories $262,030,451f $131.94 $5.20 $22.56 $81.16 $259.67 $838.39
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 52 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

f

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 53 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 13: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first and second columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the 

value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column have sampling errors of 

(+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the fourth, 

fifth, and six columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates 

unless otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown, unless otherwise noted. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

Business gross receipts under $25,000

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Advertising $1,267,229 $0.6 $0.01 $0.04 $0.22 $1.20 $5.29

Bad debts 303,444c 1.7c 0.01e 0.05c 0.30c 2.02d 18.48e

Car/truck 13,516,802 2.3 0.03 0.19 1.42 5.48 12.53

Commissions 763,945c 1.6b 0.01d 0.06c 0.44 3.28c 14.06

Depletion 78,953c 1.4c 0.00d 0.07d 0.77d 2.85d 6.06

Depreciation 6,001,607 2.0 0.02 0.13 0.95 4.56 17.15

Employee benefit programs 57,738c 2.3c 0.18e 0.31d 1.54d 4.46c 7.30e

Insurance 1,449,294 0.8 0.02 0.10 0.46 1.78 4.83

Interest on mortgage 689,164c 3.4b 0.01e 0.32d 1.84c 7.21c 25.96e

Interest on other business debt 910,187c 1.8c 0.01d 0.07c 0.48 2.83c 11.77

Legal/professional services 1,316,971 0.4 0.02 0.05 0.16 0.68 3.79

Office 2,000,186 0.6 0.01 0.04 0.25 1.36 4.51

Pension/profit sharing plans 27,496d 1.5c 0.00e 0.01d 0.80d 3.48e 6.95e

Rent on machinery/equipment 1,307,168b 1.8 0.01d 0.10 0.75c 4.81 9.12

Rent on other business property 2,922,305 2.8 0.03d 0.20c 1.99 6.17 13.97

Repairs 1,622,908 0.9 0.01e 0.06 0.37 2.33 7.11

Supplies 5,323,414 1.1 0.01 0.07 0.50 2.71 8.41

Taxes 906,450 0.4 0.01e 0.03 0.14 0.86 2.96

Travel 2,434,854 1.2 0.02 0.08 0.56 2.80 8.52

Meals/entertainment 1,134,275 0.5 0.01 0.03 0.20 1.14 3.56

Utilities 3,327,822 0.9 0.01 0.11 0.58 2.03 5.37

Wages 918,960c 4.5c 0.03e 0.19d 1.19c 8.00c 29.94

Other 12,432,885 2.2 0.01 0.11 0.86 4.48 16.32

Home office 2,294,004 1.8 0.04d 0.28 1.12 3.90 10.13

All categories $63,008,061f $7.0 $0.06 $0.59 $4.40 $14.97 $36.26
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 54 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

f

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 55 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 14: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first and second columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the 

value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column have sampling errors of 

(+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the fourth, 

fifth, and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates 

unless otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown, unless otherwise noted. 

b

Population estimates could not be developed. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

Business gross receipts $25,000 to $100,000

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Advertising $2,591,984 $1.6 $0.02 $0.08 $0.68 $4.29 $10.92

Bad debts 145,056d 1.5d 0.02f 0.07d 0.58e 2.68d 15.53f

Car/truck 18,616,606 6.1 0.10 0.88 4.20 12.99 30.91

Commissions 1,981,873c 5.2c 0.02e 0.14d 1.67d 13.91d 51.33

Depletion 116,199d 6.0d 0.04f 0.28e 4.96d 13.78d 24.49f

Depreciation 8,451,676 4.3 0.05 0.33 2.40 9.90 27.87

Employee benefit programs 131,358d 2.7d 0.09f 0.16e 1.83e 6.89d 10.50f

Insurance 3,190,042 1.6 0.06 0.25 0.99 3.61 8.06

Interest on mortgage 1,073,733c 4.1c 0.03f 0.41d 2.19d 9.02d 32.40

Interest on other business debt 1,278,587c 1.9 0.01e 0.14d 0.97 4.75 11.91

Legal/professional services 1,559,789 0.7 0.04 0.09 0.25 1.29 7.82

Office 2,909,072 1.3 0.02 0.10 0.58 3.02 10.15

Pension/profit sharing plans 70,066e 3.1e b 0.10f 1.17e 9.02e 10.44f

Rent on machinery/equipment 2,431,023c 3.1c 0.02 0.13 1.26d 7.60 21.95

Rent on other business property 6,240,658 6.4 0.04e 0.60 4.79 14.40 26.61

Repairs 3,306,118 2.2 0.03 0.11 0.90 5.70 18.25

Supplies 6,945,572 3.0 0.03 0.18 1.25 7.11 26.84

Taxes 1,904,286 1.0 0.01f 0.05 0.40 2.54 7.52

Travel 2,660,376 2.3 0.03 0.14 1.07 5.49 17.93

Meals/entertainment 1,725,173 1.0 0.02 0.07 0.50 2.44 6.07

Utilities 5,514,404 2.1 0.06 0.37 1.50 4.40 11.69

Wages 4,340,403c 10.5 0.10e 0.75d 6.64d 26.16 48.09

Other 19,608,587 6.2 0.04 0.41 2.88 15.11 45.53

Home office 2,396,990 3.0 0.11 0.55 2.06 6.91 12.96

All categories $99,189,633g $26.2 $1.56 $7.24 $21.42 $51.14 $90.10
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 56 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

f

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

g

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 57 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 15: Range Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Size Based on Businesses Gross Receipts, Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first and second columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the 

value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column have sampling errors of 

(+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the fourth, 

fifth, and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates 

unless otherwise noted. 

a

For these estimates we are more than 95 percent confident that the actual percentile is at least 80 

percent of the estimate shown. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

Business gross receipts over $100,000

Total Mean 1st 10th Median 90th 99tha

Advertising $6,914,866 $5.3 $0.03 $0.14c $1.69 $11.92 $51.66

Bad debts 727,824c 5.3c 0.02d 0.08d 1.08c 8.20c 46.24

Car/truck 15,218,532 9.4 0.11 1.15 5.33 18.90 67.81

Commissions 9,384,259 31.8 0.04 0.30c 4.81c 71.93c 396.84

Depletion 498,517b 34.7c 0.03e 0.45d 7.68d 74.56c 377.74

Depreciation 18,972,284 12.7 0.09 0.75 5.76 28.88 90.13

Employee benefit programs 1,851,542 7.5 0.08 0.51c 4.40 15.69 42.76

Insurance 9,727,682 6.1 0.13 0.63 3.22 13.32 44.65

Interest on mortgage 3,693,329 10.3 0.02d 0.67c 4.41 22.01 91.50

Interest on other business debt 4,864,547 6.3 0.01d 0.21c 2.45 12.70 53.25

Legal/professional services 4,605,859 2.9 0.06 0.17 0.90 5.31 31.46

Office 5,695,547 3.7 0.03 0.19 1.57 8.87 31.64

Pension/profit sharing plans 894,330 7.2 0.06e 0.66c 3.94 15.24 52.70

Rent on machinery/equipment 4,783,816 6.7 0.04 0.22 2.51 14.96 61.39

Rent on other business property 15,956,161 17.5 0.10d 1.35 10.98 36.49 114.58

Repairs 7,200,730 5.7 0.04 0.22 2.14 13.73 51.01

Supplies 10,805,850 8.5 0.04 0.32 2.56 17.80 96.02

Taxes 11,403,346 7.4 0.03 0.20 3.29 16.97 60.74

Travel 3,562,036 4.3 0.03 0.21 1.64 9.56 40.90

Meals/entertainment 1,875,864 1.7 0.01 0.09 0.80 4.45 11.81

Utilities 11,640,455 6.7 0.24 1.04 4.25 13.69 39.82

Wages 58,566,657 66.3 0.58d 6.56 37.44 136.71 453.02

Other 62,570,804 33.1 0.14 1.05 8.78 62.93 330.17

Home office 1,290,409b 3.7 0.16 0.66 2.46 7.93 16.96

All categories $272,705,243f $135.2 $5.38 $23.13 $82.28 $267.14 $876.72
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 58 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate.

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

f

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 59 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 16: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Total Business Gross Receipts, Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in all columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

Expenses as a percentage of business gross 

receipts

 2000 2001

Advertising 1.7 1.8

Bad debts 1.2a 1.4b

Car/truck 6.1 6.4

Commissions 7.8a 8.5

Depletion 7.8b 7.6a

Depreciation 4.7 4.9

Employee benefit programs 1.3 1.4

Insurance 1.9 2.0

Interest on mortgage 3.2 3.3

Interest on other business debt 1.8 1.9

Legal/professional services 1.0 1.0

Office 1.5 1.5

Pension/profit sharing plans 1.3 1.3

Rent on machinery/equipment 2.7 2.6

Rent on other business property 5.6 5.9

Repairs 2.1 2.1

Supplies 3.6 3.8

Taxes 2.0 2.0

Travel 2.1 2.2

Meals/entertainment 0.9 0.9

Utilities 2.5 2.6

Wages 15.1 15.2

Other 9.8 10.7

Home office 4.1 4.3
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 60 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 17: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses by Business Gross Receipts, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in all columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall in different 

industry categories; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2000 2001

Business gross 

receipts totala

Expenses as a 

percentage of 

business gross 

receipts 

Business gross 

receipts totala

Expenses as a 

percentage of 

business gross 

receipts

Accommodation/food services $36,068,000 55.3 $35,827,892 57.8

Administrative/waste management 36,977,755 54.0 36,552,989 54.8

Agriculture/forestry 15,965,777 62.5 15,496,089 60.0

Arts/recreation 19,544,201 67.8 19,818,497 72.1

Construction 154,732,186 37.4 159,253,760 38.3

Education services 4,085,152b 63.9 4,357,558 63.5

Finance/insurance 99,457,478 26.3 77,723,180 34.8b

Health care/social assistance 83,758,190 53.9 89,449,901 54.0

Information 6,509,562 60.4 7,053,158 58.5

Manufacturing 27,580,129 40.8 23,976,663 43.2

Mining 5,344,455 79.6 6,200,506 79.7

Other services 62,924,792 50.0 66,224,392 50.6

Professional/technical 108,778,286 46.4 112,906,070 48.3

Real estate/leasing 47,217,865 48.7 47,164,765 51.8

Religious/civic 2,639,655b 48.4 2,396,712b 53.9

Retail trade 174,136,958 26.5 179,437,743 26.8

Transportation/warehousing 50,852,835 76.5 50,676,326 76.3

Utilities 256,908c 71.0b 250,610c 66.0b

Wholesale trade 41,078,866 20.8 38,099,169 22.4

Unclassified 2,390,234b 57.0 1,612,332b 50.0b
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 61 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 18: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses, Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in all columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall into a 

different industry category; only those amounts that could be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Totals may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2000 2001

Expense totala

Expense as 

percentage of 

total expenses Expense totala

Expense as 

percentage of 

total expenses

Accommodation/food services $19,951,050 4.8 $20,690,429 4.8

Administrative/waste management 19,928,104 4.8 19,914,615 4.6

Agriculture/forestry 9,973,723 2.4 9,288,614 2.2

Arts/recreation 13,221,156 3.2 14,266,382 3.3

Construction 57,618,909 13.9 60,783,362 14.1

Education services 2,570,439b 0.6b 2,734,030 0.6

Finance/insurance 25,687,067 6.2 26,388,126 6.1

Health care/social assistance 45,096,357 10.9 48,249,135 11.2

Information 3,920,292 0.9 4,120,542 1.0

Manufacturing 11,254,726 2.7 10,345,963 2.4

Mining 4,247,335 1.0 4,941,103 1.1

Other services 31,434,173 7.6 33,479,849 7.8

Professional/technical 50,302,594 12.1 54,340,816 12.6

Real estate/leasing 22,904,868 5.5 24,233,205 5.6

Religious/civic 1,250,739b 0.3b 1,264,084b 0.3b

Retail trade 46,102,269 11.1 48,013,853 11.1

Transportation/warehousing 38,885,750 9.4 38,648,317 9.0

Utilities 181,741c 0.0c 165,375c 0.0c

Wholesale trade 8,528,371 2.1 8,510,788 2.0

Unclassified 1,327,310b 0.3b 786,364b 0.2b

Totald 100% 100%
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 62 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 19: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses, Tax Years 2000 and 2001 

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in all columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall in different 

industry categories; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2000 2001

Totala Mean Median Totala Mean Median

Accommodation/food services $19,951,050 $65.8 $22.8b $20,690,429 $63.2 $21.2b

Administrative/waste management 19,928,104 17.6 5.1 19,914,615 17.1 5.0 

Agriculture/forestry 9,973,723 37.0 7.9b 9,288,614 34.8 10.2b

Arts/recreation 13,221,156 13.0 4.3 14,266,382 14.5 5.0 

Construction 57,618,909 30.6 12.1 60,783,362 29.7 11.4 

Education services 2,570,439b 10.0 3.8b 2,734,030 9.4 3.7b

Finance/insurance 25,687,067 47.5 12.4 26,388,126 48.7 12.8b

Health care/social assistance 45,096,357 36.2 8.8 48,249,135 37.2 8.7 

Information 3,920,292 15.6 4.6b 4,120,542 16.6 4.5b

Manufacturing 11,254,726 34.5 8.7b 10,345,963 35.1 10.0b

Mining 4,247,335 36.7 2.7c 4,941,103 43.7 5.8c

Other services 31,434,173 21.1 8.4 33,479,849 21.5 8.6 

Professional/technical 50,302,594 23.1 6.8 54,340,816 23.6 6.9 

Real estate/leasing 22,904,868 24.6 11.6 24,233,205 25.2 12.2 

Religious/civic 1,250,739b 7.0 3.1b 1,264,084b 7.1 4.2b

Retail trade 46,102,269 20.6 4.6 48,013,853 21.7 5.1 

Transportation/warehousing 38,885,750 48.6 22.8 38,648,317 45.8 20.1 

Utilities 181,741c 13.9c 6.9c 165,375c 20.4c 9.5c

Wholesale trade 8,528,371 24.0 9.1b 8,510,788 26.1 9.4 

Unclassified 1,327,310b 10.7b 4.1c 786,364b 8.1b 3.6c
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 63 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 20: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses by Businesses With Inventory, Tax Years 2000 and 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in all columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall in different 

industry categories; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2000 2001

Totala

Percentage with 

inventory Totala

Percentage with 

inventory

Accommodation/food services $120 37.8 $115 33.8

Administrative/waste management 25 2.0b 33 2.6

Agriculture/forestry 13b 4.7b 17b 6.1b

Arts/recreation 60 5.7 63 6.2

Construction 91 4.6 85 3.9

Education services 5b 1.7b 7b 2.1b

Finance/insurance 8b 1.4b 6b 1.0b

Health care/social assistance 21 1.5 15 1.1b

Information 18 6.7b 21 7.7b

Manufacturing 95 28.0 79 25.1

Mining 1c 0.5b 0b 0.2b

Other services 228 14.4 242 14.5

Professional/technical 87 3.8 87 3.6

Real estate/leasing 12 1.3 18 1.8b

Religious/civic 0c 0.0b 0c 0.0b

Retail trade 1,080 45.7 1,069 46.0

Transportation/warehousing 4b 0.4b 5b 0.6b

Utilities 1c 7.1c 1c 10.3c

Wholesale trade 114 30.4 89 26.5

Unclassified 7b 4.4b 6c 4.2b
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 64 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 21: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses by Businesses With and Without Inventory, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, second, and fourth through eighth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 

percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column 

have sampling errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall in different 

industry categories; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Population estimates could not be developed. 

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2000

With inventory Without inventory Total

Totala Mean Median Totala Mean Median Mean Median

Accommodation/food services $12,242,127 $102.1 $44.7 $7,708,923 $42.0 $11.4c $65.8 $22.8c

Administrative/waste management 1,437,708c 56.8c 15.1d 18,490,397 16.4 4.9 17.3 5.0

Agriculture/forestry 762,692c 58.8d 9.7d 9,211,031 35.9 7.8c 37.0 7.9c

Arts/recreation 1,440,280c 25.1c 5.7d 11,780,876 12.1 4.1 12.9 4.2

Construction 5,251,889 57.9 27.2 52,367,020 29.1 11.4 30.4 12.0

Education services 97,709d 20.0d 4.5d 2,472,730c 9.7 3.6c 9.9 3.7c

Finance/insurance 203,872d 26.2d 10.5d 25,483,195 47.2 12.0 46.9 12.0

Health care/social assistance 1,718,444c 82.7c 42.1d 43,377,913 35.1 8.5 35.9 8.7

Information 420,743d 24.8c 8.5d 3,499,548 14.8 4.5c 15.5 4.5c

Manufacturing 4,478,146 50.6c 10.1d 6,776,580 28.3 8.5c 34.3 8.7c

Mining 121,517d 197.0d 44.6e 4,125,818 34.9 2.4d 35.7 2.5d

Other services 9,037,826 40.0 16.1 22,396,347 17.5 7.5 20.9 8.3

Professional/technical 1,970,841c 22.9c 6.0 48,331,754 22.9 6.8 22.9 6.8

Real estate/leasing 933,538c 75.7c 20.2d 21,971,330 23.8 11.3 24.4 11.4

Religious/civic 34,025e 843.2 b 1,216,714c 6.6 2.9c 6.8 2.9c

Retail trade 32,881,146 31.4 7.1 13,221,123 10.8 3.3 20.3 4.5

Transportation/warehousing 465,983c 133.1d 34.5d 38,419,768 48.2 22.7 48.5 22.7

Utilities 32,090e 34.4 b 149,652d 12.3d 6.5d 13.9d 6.9d

Wholesale trade 3,614,394 32.4 9.3 4,913,977 20.0 8.8c 23.9 9.1c

Unclassified 201,270d 30.3d 12.5d 1,126,040c 9.1c 3.7c 10.2c 3.7d
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 65 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 22: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses by Businesses With and Without Inventory, Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, second, and fourth through eighth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 

percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third column 

have sampling errors of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall in different 

industry categories; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Population estimates could not be developed. 

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2001

With inventory Without inventory Total

Totala Mean Median Totala Mean Median Mean Median

Accommodation/food services $11,456,070 $99.4 $44.0 $9,234,359 $43.1 $13.1 $62.8 $20.7 

Administrative/waste management 1,108,773c 34.3c 8.8d 18,805,841 16.3 4.9 16.8 4.9 

Agriculture/forestry 843,814c 49.5c 11.6d 8,444,800 33.5 9.4c 34.5 9.8c

Arts/recreation 1,473,398c 24.1c 5.4d 12,792,984 13.7 4.9 14.3 4.9 

Construction 5,235,774 62.0 26.2 55,547,588 28.1 11.0 29.5 11.2 

Education services 72,049e 10.6d 2.6d 2,661,981 9.2 3.7c 9.2 3.7 

Finance/insurance 174,454d 30.3d 6.5d 26,213,673 48.4 12.4c 48.2 12.3 

Health care/social assistance 1,664,222c 108.8c 71.6 d 46,584,913 35.8 8.3 36.6 8.5 

Information 548,821 27.7c 11.8d 3,571,722 15.6 4.3c 16.6 4.5c

Manufacturing 3,838,574 51.9c 10.2d 6,507,389 29.0 9.6c 34.7 9.8c

Mining 152,257d 573.1d 220.8d 4,788,846 42.2 5.8d 43.4 5.8d

Other services 9,647,905 41.4 16.5 23,831,944 17.9 7.8 21.4 8.6 

Professional/technical 2,530,210c 29.2c 5.6d 51,810,606 23.2 6.9 23.4 6.9 

Real estate/leasing 1,023,394c 57.4c 14.3d 23,209,811 24.5 12.2 25.1 12.2 

Religious/civic 38,832e 927.0 b 1,225,252c 6.7 4.1c 6.9 4.1c

Retail trade 34,382,362 33.0 7.3 13,631,491 11.5 3.8 21.5 5.0 

Transportation/warehousing 578,040 d 117.6d 40.9d 38,070,277 45.2 20.0 45.6 20.1 

Utilities 18,836d 20.1 b 146,539d 20.4d 9.3d 20.4d 9.5d

Wholesale trade 4,126,679 46.5 13.2d 4,384,109 18.2 8.4 25.8 9.3 

Unclassified 38,198e 6.8d 1.1e 748,166c 7.7c 3.3d 7.6c 3.3d
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 66 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 23: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Businesses With and Without Home Office Expense, Tax Year 

2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, second, third, and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent 

or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the fourth and fifth columns 

have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall in different 

industry categories; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

2000

With home office Without home office

Totala Mean Median Totala Mean Median

Advertising $1,371,577 $1.5 $0.4 $8,777,039 $2.1 $0.5

Bad debts 101,880c 1.6c 0.5d 881,988b 2.7b 0.5

Car/truck 8,094,216 4.4 2.6 37,616,997 4.4 2.3

Commissions 1,803,729 9.3 1.3c 9,806,822 10.3 1.0

Depletion 7,190d 1.9d 0.5e 677,783b 8.4c 1.1d

Depreciation 5,119,981 3.8 1.7 27,076,170 5.3 1.9

Employee benefit programs 209,585c 4.1 2.6c 1,662,290 6.0 2.9

Insurance 1,488,311 1.9 0.7 12,135,436 2.6 1.0

Interest on mortgage 345,804c 4.0 1.7c 4,905,092 6.6 3.0

Interest on other business debt 755,801 2.1 0.9 6,226,148 3.9 1.2

Legal/professional services 1,009,482 0.8 0.2 6,303,109 1.1 0.3

Office 1,715,990 1.2 0.5 8,740,424 1.5 0.4

Pension/profit sharing plans 73,288c 4.1c 3.3c 819,586 6.1 3.5

Rent on machinery/equipment 1,111,101 3.3 1.1c 7,769,166 4.2 1.5

Rent on other business property 1,185,139 4.2 1.6c 23,156,963 8.6 4.4

Repairs 1,231,555 1.8 0.5 11,048,967 2.9 0.9

Supplies 3,482,106 2.3 0.8 18,311,837 2.8 0.8

Taxes 1,237,442 1.4 0.2 12,718,473 2.5 0.4

Travel 1,685,788 2.3 0.9 6,771,521 2.2 0.8

Meals/entertainment 881,931 0.8 0.3 3,782,760 0.9 0.3

Utilities 2,154,350 1.7 1.0 17,227,520 2.6 1.1

Wages 5,265,814 25.1 7.4c 58,219,668 43.3 18.4

Other 12,381,187 6.7 1.8 74,644,740 8.6 1.5

Home office 5,642,543 2.5 1.5 n/a n/a n/a

Totalf $58,355,790 $359,280,501
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 67 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

f

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 68 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 24: Information on Expense Categories on Schedule C by Businesses With and Without Home Office Expense, Tax Year 

2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first, second, third and sixth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or 

less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the fourth and fifth columns 

have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Sampling error is between (+/-) 10 and (+/-) 20 percent of the value of the estimate. 

Dollars in thousands

Expense category

2001

With home office Without home office

Total Mean Median Total Mean Median

Advertising $1,714,740 $1.7 $0.4 $9,059,338 $2.1 $0.5 

Bad debts 231,807d 3.1d 0.4b 944,517a 2.8a 0.5b

Car/truck 9,164,442 4.7 2.7 38,187,497 4.4 2.4 

Commissions 2,107,584 9.0 1.2b 10,022,493 10.9 1.2 

Depletion 22,478c 2.8c 1.2c 671,191a 8.3a 1.4c

Depreciation 5,521,567 4.0 1.6 27,904,000 5.6 1.9 

Employee benefit programs 232,760b 4.7b 3.0b 1,807,879 6.7 3.5 

Insurance 1,714,384 1.9 0.8 12,652,634 2.7 1.1 

Interest on mortgage 344,775b 3.4 1.7b 5,111,451 7.1 3.1 

Interest on other business debt 775,430 2.0 0.9 6,277,891 4.0 1.2 

Legal/professional services 1,152,437 0.9 0.2 6,330,182 1.1 0.3 

Office 1,878,875 1.3 0.5 8,725,930 1.5 0.4 

Pension/profit sharing plans 47,866b 3.2b 1.1c 944,026a 6.2a 3.4 

Rent on machinery/equipment 1,185,234 3.0 0.8b 7,336,773 4.0 1.4 

Rent on other business property 1,329,368 4.8 1.6c 23,789,756 9.0 4.4 

Repairs 1,347,778 1.9 0.4 10,781,978 2.8 0.8 

Supplies 4,046,055 2.5 0.8 19,028,780 2.8 0.8 

Taxes 1,321,350 1.3 0.2 12,892,731 2.6 0.4 

Travel 1,882,599 2.3 0.8 6,774,668 2.1 0.8 

Meals/entertainment 972,722 0.8 0.3 3,762,591 0.9 0.3 

Utilities 2,465,395 1.8 1.0 18,017,285 2.8 1.2 

Wages 5,653,834 26.1 9.3b 58,172,186 45.3 19.5 

Other 13,304,153 6.9 1.9 81,308,123 9.2 1.7 

Home office 5,981,403 2.5 1.5 n/a n/a n/a

Totale $64,399,036 $370,503,901 
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 69 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

e

Total may not add due to rounding.
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 70 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 25: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses by Businesses With Home Office Expense, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first column have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates. Estimates in the second, third, and fourth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent 

or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Population estimates could not be developed.

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2000

Percentage of businesses 

claiming home office 

expenses

Total of home office 

expenses claimed Mean Median

Accommodation/food services 5.7 $45,238c $2.6b $1.4c

Administrative/waste management 14.0 280,282b 1.7 1.3

Agriculture/forestry 6.2 21,741c 1.3b 0.8c

Arts/recreation 12.9 332,943b 2.5 1.8b

Construction 14.4 591,500 2.2 1.5

Education services 16.9 93,139b 2.1b 1.4b

Finance/insurance 16.3 204,671b 2.3 1.6b

Health care/social assistance 27.1 1,239,955 3.6 2.4

Information 16.8 101,637b 2.4b 1.4b

Manufacturing 15.4 148,105b 2.9b 1.6c

Mining 2.0 7,888d 3.3c 3.5d

Other services 9.0 265,521b 2.0 1.2b

Professional/technical 21.1 1,264,367 2.7 1.7

Real estate/leasing 11.8 272,712b 2.5 1.6b

Religious/civic 5.2 15,724d 1.6d 0.4d

Retail trade 11.6 478,860b 1.8 1.1

Transportation/warehousing 6.5 73,700b 1.4b 1.0b

Utilities 7.1d 1,761d 1.9d a

Wholesale trade 18.8 157,851b 2.4b 1.8b

Unclassified 7.1 27,598c 2.9c 1.1c
Appendix IV

Information on the Expenses Reported on 

Schedule C by Selected Business 

Characteristics

Page 71 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 26: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses by Businesses With Home Office Expense, Tax Year 2001 

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first column have sampling errors of (+/-) 10 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the second and fourth columns have sampling errors 

of (+/-) 50 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the third 

column have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise 

noted. 

a

Population estimates could not be developed. 

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2001

Percentage of businesses 

claiming home office 

expenses

Total of

 home office 

expenses claimed Mean Median

Accommodation/food services 6.6 $44,575 $2.0b $1.8c

Administrative/waste management 15.7 345,992 1.9 1.1 

Agriculture/forestry 8.3 30,240c 1.4b 0.9c

Arts/recreation 13.2 352,842 2.7 1.9 

Construction 14.2 636,034 2.2 1.4 

Education services 18.0 100,108 1.9b 1.4 

Finance/insurance 13.7 204,760 2.7 1.8 

Health care/social assistance 27.2 1,259,834 3.5 2.5 

Information 19.1 110,585 2.3b 1.7c

Manufacturing 18.0 119,709 2.2b 1.4c

Mining 3.6 9,644d 2.4c 0.7d

Other services 10.8 363,851 2.1 1.6 

Professional/technical 21.7 1,347,227 2.7 1.7 

Real estate/leasing 14.3 302,482 2.2 1.2 

Religious/civic 6.3 18,703c 1.6b 1.6c

Retail trade 12.4 460,247 1.7 0.8 

Transportation/warehousing 6.5 83,564 1.5b 1.1 

Utilities 35.3b 3,085d 1.1b a

Wholesale trade 18.6 160,637 2.6 2.0 

Unclassified 3.9 6,942d 1.7c 0.8d
Page 72 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Appendix V

Information on Cost of Goods Sold for 

Businesses With Inventories and Depreciation 

Expenses by Industry Categories ApendxiV

This appendix provides detailed information on the cost of goods sold for 

businesses with inventories.1

 It also provides information on the 

depreciation expense category by industry categories for the Schedule C. 

1

Generally, businesses in which the production, purchase, or sale of merchandise was 

income producing must account for inventories at the beginning and end of the tax year. 

Cost of goods sold is the difference between the inventory at the end of the year and the 

inventory at the beginning of the year after adding the cost of merchandise bought for sale 

and/or the cost of raw materials, labor, materials, and supplies used to fabricate a saleable 

product. 
Appendix V

Information on Cost of Goods Sold for 

Businesses With Inventories and 

Depreciation Expenses by Industry 

Categories

Page 73 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 27: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses by Cost of Goods Sold for Businesses With and Without 

Inventory, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first through sixth and eighth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 50 percent 

or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the seventh column have 

sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall in different 

industry categories; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Population estimates could not be developed. 

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2000

With inventory Without inventory Total

Totala Mean Median Totala Mean Median Mean Median

Accommodation/food services $10,372,483 $86.8 $42.5 $4,046,147 $46.0 $15.9d $69.5 $31.7

Administrative/waste management 1,743,378 71.5d 4.2d 6,514,970 21.2 1.0d 24.9c 1.1d

Agriculture/forestry 1,772,783d 167.8d 12.6d 3,255,437 46.1 1.9e 61.9c 3.5d

Arts/recreation 769,798d 14.9d 1.3d 1,302,265 6.7 0.4e 8.4c 0.7d

Construction 12,147,827 139.0 38.6 62,171,916 63.9 16.9 70.0 18.0

Education services 27,931e 5.7e 0.5e 344,899d 7.0d b 6.9d b

Finance/insurance 6,385,437 825.8d 4.4d 55,154,549 694.8 b 706.5c b

Health care/social assistance 659,024 33.5 11.2d 3,727,951 16.2 0.3e 17.6 0.6d

Information 383,863d 22.6d 2.5d 843,672d 13.8d b 15.7c 0.3e

Manufacturing 7,464,505 88.2 10.3d 4,933,207 42.3 7.8 61.6 9.2

Mining 164,599e 266.9d 89.8e 678,420 17.0 b 20.8c b

Other services 9,508,833 42.8 9.5 9,765,939 21.4 4.4 28.4 5.5

Professional/technical 2,457,226 31.3 4.2d 12,205,477 29.6 1.9d 29.8 2.5

Real estate/leasing 1,496,405 128.6 31.3d 3,518,578 26.1 b 34.2c b

Religious/civic 185,249e 4,591.0 b 52,902d 1.5d b 6.8e b

Retail trade 105,808,928 102.8 7.5 16,187,306 26.6 2.7 74.5 5.0

Transportation/warehousing 459,085d 131.2d 47.4d 5,363,752 51.3 5.1d 53.9c 8.8d

Utilities 31,343e 33.6 b 9e 0.0e b 16.0e b

Wholesale trade 17,236,104 164.5 12.6d 10,850,304 104.9 10.7d 134.9 11.1d

Unclassified 320,376d 48.2d 4.0d 131,019d 3.4d b 10.0d 0.5e
Appendix V

Information on Cost of Goods Sold for 

Businesses With Inventories and 

Depreciation Expenses by Industry 

Categories

Page 74 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 28: Information by Industry Categories for Schedule C Expenses by Cost of Goods Sold for Businesses With and Without 

Inventory, Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in the first through sixth and eighth columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 50 percent 

or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. Estimates in the seventh column have 

sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the estimates unless otherwise noted. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall in different 

industry categories; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Population estimates could not be developed. 

c

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

e

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2001

With inventory Without inventory Total

Totala Mean Median Totala Mean Median Mean Median

Accommodation/food services $9,522,474 $82.8 $37.9 $4,735,444 $46.5 $14.2d $65.7 $24.4 

Administrative/waste management 1,273,743 42.2d 5.1d 6,347,815 21.0 0.9d 22.9c 1.1 

Agriculture/forestry 1,835,940 113.7d 9.1d 3,729,339 51.3 3.6d 62.6c 5.3d

Arts/recreation 668,514 12.4d 1.1d 1,004,029 5.3 b 6.8c 0.4d

Construction 11,233,582 137.3 32.0d 62,303,236 63.3 16.6 69.0 17.6 

Education services 71,740e 10.5e 2.8d 267,392d 4.2d b 4.9d b

Finance/insurance 5,344,847 927.9d 4.8e 34,664,644 498.3 b 531.2c b

Health care/social assistance 720,115 47.2 17.6d 3,822,110 16.6 0.2e 18.5 0.4e

Information 375,140d 19.1 3.8d 1,435,823d 26.4d 0.1e 24.5c 1.3d

Manufacturing 6,257,623 88.1 8.8d 4,460,457 41.6 7.7d 60.1 7.9d

Mining 290,406e 1,097.2d 426.0d 677,036 20.5 b 29.1c b

Other services 9,986,625 43.6 7.8 10,253,868 22.7 4.3 29.7 5.4 

Professional/technical 2,201,470 26.4 2.6d 12,104,715 29.9 1.8d 29.3 2.0 

Real estate/leasing 1,487,003 106.7d 12.2d 2,441,076 21.4 b 30.7c b

Religious/civic 52,547e 1,254.4 b 85,370d 2.5d b 4.1d b

Retail trade 108,304,195 105.7 8.0 16,809,689 28.3 2.4 77.2 4.8 

Transportation/warehousing 452,784d 99.3d 29.1d 5,011,826 47.8 5.2d 50.0c 5.9d

Utilities 21,858e 23.3 b 1,658e 47.5e b 24.2 11.4e

Wholesale trade 17,331,067 207.5 20.5d 8,807,787 76.3 8.9d 131.4 11.9d

Unclassified 16,282e 5.4e b 222,783e 10.9e b 10.2e b
Appendix V

Information on Cost of Goods Sold for 

Businesses With Inventories and 

Depreciation Expenses by Industry 

Categories

Page 75 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 29: Depreciation Expense Reported on Schedule C by Industry, Tax Year 2000

Source: GAO analysis of IRS’s data.

Note: Estimates in all columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. 

Note: This table shows the total depreciation expenses claimed by sole proprietors in tax year 2000 for 

all property depreciation classifications. Depreciation classification depends on the type of property 

being depreciated. For example IRS classifies automobiles, light trucks, copiers, and computers as 5-

year property; office furniture, railroad track, and property not otherwise classified as 7-year property; 

and vessels, barges, and fruit-bearing trees as 10-year property. 

aSome sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall into a 

different industry category; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate.

d

Reliable confidence intervals could not be computed for estimates.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2000

Totala Mean Median

Percentage of 

total

Accommodation/food services $1,362,847 $6.8 $2.8b 4.3

Administrative/waste management 1,773,549 3.9 1.6 5.6

Agriculture/forestry 1,551,461 8.6 3.1b 4.9

Arts/recreation 1,332,323 3.2 1.3 4.2

Construction 5,567,136 6.1 2.6 17.4

Education services 161,559b 1.7b 0.9c 0.5b

Finance/insurance 737,642 3.5 1.8b 2.3

Health care/social assistance 1,995,423 4.3 1.4b 6.2

Information 312,506b 3.3b 1.8b 1.0b

Manufacturing 954,184 5.5 1.8b 3.0

Mining 385,456b 9.5b 1.5c 1.2b

Other services 2,324,806 3.8 1.6 7.3

Professional/technical 2,942,314 2.9 1.5 9.2

Real estate/leasing 2,070,830 5.2 2.0 6.5

Religious/civic 79,147c 2.2c 0.6c 0.2c

Retail trade 2,613,567 3.2 1.1 8.2

Transportation/warehousing 5,141,384 13.8 7.3 16.1

Utilities 9,805d 3.2c 2.3c 0.0c

Wholesale trade 561,459 4.1 1.8b 1.8b

Unclassified 53,225c 2.1c 0.5c 0.2c

Totale 100%
Appendix V

Information on Cost of Goods Sold for 

Businesses With Inventories and 

Depreciation Expenses by Industry 

Categories

Page 76 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

e

Totals may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.
Appendix V

Information on Cost of Goods Sold for 

Businesses With Inventories and 

Depreciation Expenses by Industry 

Categories

Page 77 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Table 30: Depreciation Expense Reported on Schedule C by Industry, Tax Year 2001

Source: GAO analysis of IRS data.

Note: Estimates in all columns have sampling errors of (+/-) 20 percent or less of the value of the 

estimates unless otherwise noted. 

Note: This table shows the total depreciation expenses claimed by sole proprietors in tax year 2001 for 

all property depreciation classifications. Depreciation classification depends on the type of property 

being depreciated. For example IRS classifies automobiles, light trucks, copiers, and computers as 5-

year property; office furniture, railroad track, and property not otherwise classified as 7-year property; 

and vessels, barges, and fruit-bearing trees as 10-year property. 

a

Some sole proprietors may claim expenses for multiple businesses, each of which may fall into a 

different industry category; only those amounts that could clearly be associated with a specific industry 

category are included in the table.

b

Sampling error is between (+/-) 20 and (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

c

Sampling error exceeds (+/-) 50 percent of the value of the estimate. 

d

Totals may not add to 100 percent due to rounding.

Dollars in thousands

Industry category

2001

Totala Mean Median

Percentage of 

total

Accommodation/food services $1,381,432 $7.1 $2.9 4.2

Administrative/waste management 1,804,973 4.0 1.5 5.4

Agriculture/forestry 1,498,533 9.0 2.8b 4.5

Arts/recreation 1,461,440 3.7 1.4 4.4

Construction 5,693,640 6.3 2.7 17.2

Education services 148,570b 1.6b 1.0b 0.4b

Finance/insurance 734,191 3.7 2.0b 2.2

Health care/social assistance 2,122,563 4.5 1.7 6.4

Information 403,100b 3.4b 1.1c 1.2b

Manufacturing 862,046 6.0 1.8b 2.6

Mining 434,656b 9.0b 1.8b 1.3b

Other services 2,574,589 3.9 1.7 7.8

Professional/technical 3,120,335 3.1 1.5 9.4

Real estate/leasing 2,312,717 5.7 2.0 7.0

Religious/civic 83,271c 2.2c 0.9c 0.3c

Retail trade 2,900,314 3.7 1.3 8.8

Transportation/warehousing 4,967,507 13.4 7.0 15.0

Utilities 21,231c 5.3c 2.9b 0.1c

Wholesale trade 568,985 4.1 1.6b 1.7b

Unclassified 32,931c 3.1c 1.2c 0.1c

Totald 100%
Page 78 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Appendix VI

Comments from the Internal Revenue Service ApendxiVI
Page 79 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Appendix VII

GAO Contacts and Staff Acknowledgments ApendxiVI

GAO Contacts Michael Brostek (202) 512-9110

Charlie W. Daniel (202) 512-9110

Acknowledgments In addition to those named above, Jennifer Gravelle, Samuel Scrutchins, 

Wendy Turenne, and Elwood D. White made key contributions to this 

report.
Page 80 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Glossary

Information in this glossary was derived from various IRS publications, tax 

forms, and instructions.

Accommodation/food services (Industry category) – includes 

accommodation, food services, and drinking places. 

Administrative/waste management (Industry category) – includes 

administrative services, support services, and waste management and 

remediation services. 

Agriculture/forestry (Industry category) – includes animal 

production, forestry, logging, hunting, trapping, fishing, and support 

activities for agriculture and forestry. 

Arts/recreation (Industry category) – includes amusement, gambling 

and recreation industries; museums, historical sites, and similar 

institutions; and performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries. 

Bad debts (Schedule C expense) – accounts receivable that the 

business cannot collect. 

Car/truck (Schedule C and Schedule F expense) – costs of operating 

and maintaining a vehicle used in a business. 

Construction (Industry category) – includes land development, 

construction of residential and nonresidential buildings, heavy 

construction, and specialty trade contractors. 

Custom hire (Schedule F expense) – includes machine work where the 

machine operator furnished the equipment. 

Depletion (Schedule C expense) – allows an owner or operator to 

account for the reduction of a natural resource’s reserves used up by 

mining, quarrying, drilling, or felling.

Depreciation (Schedule C and Schedule F expense) – property 

acquired by a business that has a useful life of more than 1 year must have 

its cost capitalized and deducted over more than 1 year.

Education services (Industry category) – educational activities 

including schools, colleges, and universities. 
Glossary

Page 81 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Employee benefit programs (Schedule C and Schedule F expense) – 

compensation to employees in the form of a benefit such as accident and 

health plans, dependent care assistance, educational assistance, and group 

life insurance coverage. 

Farming (Industry category) – includes crop production, animal 

production, and forestry and logging.

Finance/insurance (Industry category) – includes credit 

intermediation and related activities; insurance agents, brokers, and 

related activities; and securities, commodity contracts, and other financial 

investments, and related activities. 

Health care/social assistance (Industry category) – includes 

ambulatory health care services, hospitals, nursing and residential care 

facilities, and social assistance. 

Home office (Schedule C expense) – expenses related to the part of 

home used exclusively for business. 

Information (Industry category) – includes publishing industries, 

broadcasting, telecommunications, data processing and information 

services, and motion picture and sound recording. 

Insurance (Schedule C expense) – premiums paid for insurance plans 

related to the business providing coverage for such things as fire, theft, 

flood, liability, malpractice, car, worker’s compensation, group 

hospitalization and medical for employees.

Legal/professional (Schedule C expense) – fees paid to accountants 

or lawyers directly related to operating the business. 

Manufacturing (Industry category) – includes general manufacturing, 

chemical manufacturing, food manufacturing, leather and allied product 

manufacturing, and nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing. 

Meals/entertainment (Schedule C expense) – business-related 

entertainment expenses for entertaining a client, customer, or employee. 

Mining (Industry category) – includes coal mining, metal ore mining, oil 

and gas extraction, and support activities for mining. 
Glossary

Page 82 GAO-04-304 Small Business Expenses

Other (Schedule C and Schedule F expense) – any ordinary and 

necessary business expenses not deducted elsewhere on the schedules. 

Other services (Industry category) – includes personal and laundry 

services, and repair and maintenance. 

Pension/profit sharing plans (Schedule C and Schedule F expense)

– contributions made to retirement plans. 

Professional/technical (Industry category) – includes legal services, 

accountants, tax preparation services, architectural, engineering, computer 

systems design, specialized design services, and other professional, 

scientific, and technical services.

Real estate/leasing (Industry category) – includes real estate and 

rental and leasing services.

Religious/civic (Industry category) – includes religious, grant making, 

civic, professional, and similar organizations.

Retail trade (Industry category) – includes building material, garden 

equipment and supplies dealers; clothing and accessories stores; electronic 

and appliance stores; food and beverage stores; furniture and home 

furnishing stores; gasoline stations; general merchandise stores; health and 

personal care stores; motor vehicle and parts dealers; sporting goods, 

hobby, book, and music stores; miscellaneous store retailers; and nonstore 

retailers. 

Supplies (Schedule C and Schedule F expense) – cost of materials and 

supplies actually used and consumed during the tax year.

Transportation/warehousing (Industry category) – includes air 

transportation, bus transportation, freight trucking, pipeline 

transportation, rail transportation, taxi and limousine service, urban transit 

systems, water transportation, support activities for transportation, 

couriers and messengers, and warehousing and storage facilities.

Travel (Schedule C expense) – expenses of traveling away from home 

for business reasons. 

Wholesale trade (Industry category) – includes wholesalers in durable 

and nondurable goods. 

(450207)
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