What this class covers
ANZSIC class 9601 classifies private households in Australia that employ staff to perform domestic duties on or around the premises of the household. This classification applies to the household itself as the employing entity, not to the individual workers or to businesses that supply staff. The core activity is the employment of personnel whose work is primarily concerned with the operation and maintenance of the household. This classification is used for statistical purposes by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to categorise economic activity and is also referenced in some business contexts, such as certain insurance or industry reporting frameworks. It is important to note that a household employing staff under this class is generally not considered to be operating a business.
Examples of operations that fit this class include:
- A family employing a live-in nanny to care for their children.
- A household hiring a full-time cook and a butler for daily meal preparation and household management.
- A residence employing a regular gardener for general garden upkeep and a maintenance worker for odd jobs.
- Employing a chauffeur primarily to drive family members in a household vehicle.
- Hiring a maid or housekeeper for regular cleaning and laundry duties within the home.
Primary activities in plain English
This class includes households that are engaged in employing various types of domestic staff. The primary activities involve directly employing individuals to perform tasks integral to running the household.
- Employing domestic staff such as nannies, cooks, maids, butlers, and housekeepers.
- Employing external workers for the household, such as gardeners, caretakers, and general maintenance workers.
- The overarching activity of a private household employing personnel for its own domestic needs.
Exclusions and nearby codes
This class has specific exclusions. If a service is provided by a business entity rather than being directly employed by the household, it falls under a different ANZSIC class.
Notably, hiring a cleaning company (whose employees come to clean your home) is excluded from this class. That activity is classified under ANZSIC 7311 Building and Other Industrial Cleaning Services. Similarly, if you hire a gardening business (without landscaping services) to maintain your garden, that business is classified under ANZSIC 7313 Gardening Services.
Practical guidance
For a private household, classification under ANZSIC 9601 is primarily for statistical purposes. From a regulatory standpoint, key considerations often relate to employment law and taxation rather than business registration.
Typically, a household employing domestic staff is not considered to be operating a business and therefore does not usually require an Australian Business Number (ABN) for this activity. Your role is that of an employer, not a business operator. Your obligations are generally centred on meeting relevant employment standards, which may include tax withholding (e.g., if you pay a nanny and they do not provide an ABN) and superannuation contributions if your employee meets the eligibility criteria.
For insurance purposes, such as workers' compensation, the classification of the employee's work is typically based on the actual duties performed (e.g., domestic duties) rather than the ANZSIC code of the household. It is crucial to understand your specific obligations as an employer, which can be complex. Consulting the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) websites for guidance on domestic employment is strongly recommended.