How do you import .iif data/files into quickbooks online please?

Thank you for your reply. Are there any plans to make it the same as Quickbooks desktop where it will import it without converting to a csv?

Hello Jdw2691, 

Currently there is no option to import the data via a iif file like desktop it will have to get converted to a csv file, to be able to import it into the online product. I would suggest leaving feedback about this. 

Hi - New to quickbooks online - How do I import the iff/csv file?

Welcome to the Community, @dmlbeach.

I'd be delighted to share some information on how you can import CSV files to QuickBooks.

If you're trying to import bank transactions, here are the factors to consider before you import the CSV file:

• Special characters are not allowed.
• Zeros (0) are not allowed anywhere in the file ($0 should be left blank)
• Correct any transactions that display an amount in the Description column
• Remove the word amount if it appears in the name of the Credit or Debit column (Credit amount and Debit amount are incorrect)
• MAC users must save the file as a Windows CSV file
• Correct and standardize the Date format to a single format (for example, dd/mm/yyyy)
• Some banks provide the day of the week and include it in the Date column (for example, 20/11/2018 TUE in column A) which is not an acceptable format.

Also, you can use either of these formats:

3 Columns

4 Columns

Once the CSV file is prepared, you can start the importing process. Here's how:

1. Go to the Gear Icon.
2. Choose Import data.
3. Select Bank Data.
4. Click the Browse button.
5. Locate the CSV file that you want to import then, click Open.
6. Hit the Next button.
7. Pick the account where you want to record the transactions, then click Next.
8. Map your file with the QuickBooks fields then click Next.
9. Review the list of transactions again then click Next.
10. Click Yes.

Once completed, you can now start reviewing and categorizing each bank transaction. Also, you can refer to these articles for the step-by-step instructions about importing data in QuickBooks:

• How to import bank transactions using Excel CSV files
• Import your customers and suppliers list to QuickBooks
• Import your products and services to QuickBooks

Lastly, you can read through these articles to help you resolve any errors you'd encounter during the importing process:

• Common errors for importing bank transactions using CSV 
• Clear cache and cookies to fix issues when using QuickBooks Online

Stay in touch if you have additional questions about QBO. I'll be around to help you. Wishing you continued success.

If one cannot import iif, how can one import splits on single transaction or general journal transactions?  What other options fare there where general journal transactions may be imported?

Hello there, John Lambert.

You can convert the IIF file to CSV as suggested by my colleagues. For your journal entries having split amounts, you can import the single transaction and split it after importing. For more details on how to split bank transactions, you can follow the steps under the Split transactions between multiple accounts section of this link: Categorise and match online bank transactions in QuickBooks Online.

You'll also want to search and get a third-party app in our Apps Center that will help you directly import your Journal Entries into QuickBooks Online. You can search something like import and a list of the related search will show. You can click each app one by one to get an overview of how it works. 

I'll be around if you have other questions. Take care and have a good one!

We thinking of switching from Desktop to Online, but the inability of importing IIF files could be a deal breaker.  Since this question was asked, have the online techs been working on IIF importing ability??

If you want people to switch, Intuit needs to offer all the advantages that Desktop has - otherwise, I will keep hearing feedback from people saying DON'T DO IT - STICK WITH DESKTOP!

Wendy

I hear your sentiments, @HCF-Bookkeeper. I understand how convenient the feature to be available in QuickBooks Online (QBO).

As of the moment the feature to import IIF data is unavailable in QBO. The option we have is to convert it to CSV file first then import it into QBO.

Let me walk you through the steps for importing your data into QuickBooks Online:

1. Go to the Gear icon.
2. Under Tools select Import data.
3. Select the data you want to import into QuickBooks.
4. Click the Browse button.
5. Select the CSV file that you want to import, then click Open.
6. Hit the Next button.
7. Pick the account where you want to record the transactions, then click Next.
8. Map your file with the QuickBooks fields then click Next.
9. Review the list of transactions again then click Next.
10. Click Yes.

You can check out this article about Formatting CSV files in Excel to get bank transactions into QuickBooks.

Furthermore, you can read the following articles to help you resolve any errors you’d encounter during importing process:

• Common errors for importing bank transactions using CSV.
• Clear cache and cookies to fix issues when using QuickBooks Online.

Let me know if you need further assistance with importing transaction. The Community is always here to assist you. Stay safe!

@HCF-Bookkeeper 

Are you using a third party app and only exporting data to IIF? The following steps allows an IIF file to be opened in Excel.
Save the IIF file locally
Open Microsoft Excel and in Excel, select FILE > OPEN
In the drop down for file type, change to ALL FILES (*.*)
Browse and select the IIF file
When the Text Import Wizard appears, select DELIMITED and NEXT
Select TAB as the DELIMITER
Select FINISH
Select FILE > SAVE AS and change the SAVE AS type to an Excel workbook

We will not be moving to the online version if QuickBooks expects us to take a step back in functionality.

Instead, we are considering alternatives to QuickBooks.

@tdwatts 

What kind of business do you run? Any specific concern with certain functions?

I don't think the CSV solution works for anything other than uploading a set of transactions to a single account, does it?  IIF files put transactions into multiple accounts.  Is there a way to import .IIF files?  

How can Quickbooks Online not support Intuit's own .IIF format for importing data?  It's your data format?  This is a deal breaker for switching to QBO.

Are there plans to allow .IIF imports directly to Quickbooks Online?  The CSV solution doesn't work for anything other than a handful of transactions to a single account.  How can Quickbooks Online not support Intuit's own format for importing data?  IIF stands for Intuit Interchange Format.  How can you not support this? 

I would like to switch to QBO, but not if it requires major compromises in functionality.

If this is the case, will look for an alternative to Quickbooks.  Terrible customer service

I appreciate you explaining how importing .IIF files would help you out, Chookje.

While importing .IIF file isn’t currently in our development roadmap, we are working on big improvements that will be helpful for the majority of our customers, and you’ll see those rolling out soon through our QuickBooks Blog.

For now, as a way around, I'd suggest converting your .IIF to CSV files then imports them into QuickBooks Online.

Also, I'd encourage submitting feedback within your QuickBooks Online (QBO) account. This way, it goes to our product developers to help improve your experience while using the program. I'll guide you on how. 

1. Go to the Gear icon at the upper right and select Feedback under Profile.
2. Enter your comments or product suggestions. You can also attach a screenshot or file to combine them all.
3. Click Next.
4. You'll be provided a list of suggested help articles related to your comments. You can read through them or choose Skip and send message.
5. Select the appropriate category from the drop-down menu.
6. Tap Send message.

The more requests and support a feature has, the more likely it is to be moved to the top of their priority list as a highly requested feature. The screenshot below shows you the second to third steps. To learn more about the process above, see this article: How Do I Submit Feedback?.

I'm leaving you some pointers to look into it about importing CSV files as well as steps on how to manage your transactions in QuickBooks:
 

Format CSV files in Excel to get bank transactions into QuickBooks.

Categorise and match online bank transactions in QuickBooks Online.

I'd love to help if you have additional questions about QuickBooks. Wishing you continued success!

The CSV solution doesn't work to import and IIF file.  As far as I can tell, the CSV format only supports 3 or 4 columns and will only upload into a single account in Quickbooks Online.  IIF files import splits into multiple accounts.

Am I interpreting this correctly?  If so, that solution doesn't work.

Please add .IIF import to the product roadmap.  It's just simply unacceptable that Intuit doesn't support it's own format in QBO.

Also, how is it possible that QBO doesn't support export to TurboTax for Business (also an Intuit product).  this is just unacceptable.  

If this is the case, will not be switching to QBO

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@Chookje wrote:

If this is the case, will not be switching to QBO

 

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@Chookje 

You will need to convert IIF files to CSV/XLS format in Excel before importing them to QBO. Otherwise, explore another cloud based accounting app and consider purchasing a 3rd party conversion service if required. 

My type of business is irrelevant. We import several files each month with multiple splits. I am amazed that such a basic feature is not available in the online version.

I think Inuit is failing in their efforts at providing SaaS. This will only drive people to other software vendors.

Hello Tdwatts, we take on board what you are say and will be sure to pass it on. 

This is not a solution at all.  Converting an IIF file to CSV doesn't work.  The CSV file only has 3 or 4 column format and only imports to one account.  The IIF file format has splits and imports to multiple accounts.

How can this not be a solution available in QBO?  this is Intuit's own format (IIF stands for Intuit Interchange Format).  This make switching from Quickbooks Desktop to Quickbooks Online a non-starter.

Also, how is that QBO doesn't export to TurboTax for Business (also an Intuit product).

Hi,

I understand how it feels when the given solution isn't working.

As Fiat Kux - ASIA shared above, you'll need to convert the IIF files to a CSV or XLS format. From there, import them into your QuickBooks Online account.

On the other hand, the ability to import directly to Turbo Tax is unavailable in QuickBooks Online. You'll need to export the QBO data to QuickBooks Desktop and then import it into Turbo Tax.

If you don't have your own QuickBooks Desktop account yet, you can download the free trial of QBDT.

Once finished, downloading the product. You'll need to export the data to QBDT. From there, you can start moving your QBDT tax information to TurboTax.

For the detailed steps to import QuickBooks data to TurboTax, you can refer to this article: How do I import QuickBooks data into TurboTax Business?

Feel free to get back if you have a hard time with the export process.

Unless I'm missing something, that solution to convert IIF files to CSV does not work.  As far as I can tell, CSV files have a 3-4 column format that only imports to 1 account in Quickbooks.  How are you supposed to take an IIF file (which has splits across multiple accounts) and use a CSV file to import it?  Please let me know if I'm missing something here, but it seems like this solution does not work at all.

How can Intuit not support it's own file format in QBO?  This is simply unacceptable.  

@Chookje 

What types of transactions do you need to import into QBO? Bank Statements, Sales Receipts or something else?

Our business is a hotel.  We import IIF files from our property management system.  Usually it's about 400-700 transactions per month that have splits across many different Accounts (e.g., revenue, expense, assets, liabilities).  I don't see a solution to import these transactions using a CSV format.  Am I missing something?