TaxonomyIn the Apg3 classification Phyllantaceae is a Family in the Order Malpighiales, closely related to Picrodendraceae. It is split off from Euphorbiaceae.

In the Cronquist and other older classifications Phyllantaceae is included in Euphorbiaceae, together with Picrodendraceae.

Picrodendraceae: 24 genera; 80 species; subtropical to tropical; previously known as the subfamily Oldfieldioideae of the Euphorbiaceae.
Phyllanthaceae: 60 genera; 2000 species; tropics; previously include in Euphorbiaceae. Irvingiaceae: 3 genera; 20 species.

Subfamilies Tribes GeneraSubfamily Antidesmatoideae 6 tribes
Tribe Bischofieae 1 genus; Bischofia
Tribe Uapaceae 1 genus; Uapaca
Tribe Spondiantheae 1 genus; Spondianthus
Tribe Scepeae 8 genera: Aporosa; Ashtonia; Baccaurea; Distichirrhops; Maesobotrya; Nothobaccaurea; Protomegabaria; Richeria.
Tribe Jablonskieae 2 genera: Jablonskia; Celianella.
Tribe Antidesmateae 5 subtribes
Subtribe Hieronyminae 1 genus; Hieronyma.
Subtribe Leptonematinae 1 genus; Leptonema
Subtribe Martretiinae 2 genera: Martretia; Apodiscus.
Subtribe Hymenocardiinae 2 genera: Hymenocardia; Didymocistus.
Subtribe Antidesmatinae 2 genera: Antidesma; Thecacoris.

Subfamily Phyllanthoideae 4 tribesTribe Bridelieae 5 subtribes
Subtribe Securineginae 2 genera: Securinega; Lachnostylis.
Subtribe Saviinae 5 genera: Savia; Croizatia; Discocarpus; Gonatogyne; Tacarcuna.
Subtribe Pseudolachnostylidinae 4 genera: Pseudolachnostylis; Bridelia; Cleistanthus; Pentabrachion.
Subtribe Keayodendrinae 1 genus: Keayodendron.
Subtribe Amanoinae 1 genus: Amanoa.
Tribe Phyllantheae 5 genera: Phyllanthus; Flueggea; Lingelsheimia; Margaritaria; Plagiocladus.
Tribe Wielandieae 2 subtribes
Subtribe Astrocasiinae 3 genera: Astrocasia; Chascotheca; Heywoodia.
Subtribe Wielandiinae 3 genera: Wielandia; Chorisandrachne; Dicoelia.
Tribe Poranthereae 8 genera: Poranthera; Actephila; Andrachne; Leptopus; Meineckia; Oreoporanthera; Zimmermannia; Zimmermanniopsis

Incertae sedis: Chonocentrum.