Based on a cursory google search, one study found that there were a few categories of lies ranked by "acceptability".

1.Saving others from minor hurt, shame and embarrassment. 2.Protecting yourself or another from punishment or disapproval for a minor failing or blunder which hurts nobody. 3.Making yourself appear better than you really are or to protect some gain, acquired some time ago, to which you were not really entitled. 4.Lies that could make others do something that would benefit you while, at the same time, harming themselves or causing themselves a loss. 5.Lies that hurts someone else so that you can gain.

However, each of these are relative. If the someone that you're "hurting" is a business owner exploiting his workers then most of these lie categories are probably okay. If they're towards your friend or a colleague or a stranger then maybe only the top 2 are okay.