I am using Quickbooks for Mac Desktop 2019. Was successfully using Intuit Payroll for years and now migrated (not my choice) to Quickbooks Payroll Online.

Welcome to the Community, westortho@mac.co.

I'm determined to help you get your payroll data moved to QuickBooks Online (QBO) right away.

We've updated the export setup flow between Intuit Online Payroll (IOP) and QuickBooks Online. All you need to do is to access your IOP service and perform the exporting process in the Setup tab.

Here's how:

1. In our payroll service, select the Setup tab.

2. Under the Export heading, select Preferences.

3. Select QuickBooks Online from the software drop-down list.

4. Click the Export heading, then select Preferences.

5. Select QuickBooks Online from the software drop-down list.

6. We will search for any existing QBO accounts under the current user ID.

7. First, we search for an existing QBO account attached to the current user ID.

8. If we don't find one, you will be asked to log in to your Intuit Account.

9. Since QBO only accounts don't require security questions, the system may prompt the customer to select a security question and answer.

10. If the correct account is found, you can continue with the export process. If multiple accounts are found, you will be prompted to select one.

11. Next, we will complete the connection process.

12. Once completed, you can complete the export settings. Make sure to select Payroll Liability accounts and Payroll Expense accounts to prevent any errors when setting up or exporting your payroll data. You are also given the option to change the QBO company you sync with.

Then, enter your QuickBooks accounts on the Export Preferences page. For the detailed instructions, refer to this article and proceed to Step 4: Setup export of IOP data to QuickBooks Online (QBO).

I also encourage checking our Help articles page to learn some tips and tricks in managing your QBO account. From there, you can read great articles that can guide you through the steps by steps process.

Let me know if you need any further assistance exporting your payroll info into QBO. The Community is always here to help.

Thank you for your detailed response.   However it is not exactly the information I need.   I do not have trouble accessing Quickbooks Payroll Online -- all of the data from the Intuit app has transferred successfully and I can issue paychecks as before.   It is the EXPORT feature that is not working.   When I am in the Payroll app, and I click on Export, the screen message then shows that the data has been exported.   The problem is that I cannot find WHERE it has been exported to.   It does not go into my check register automatically and it does not appear as an llf file in my Downloads folder so that I can import the data to my QB desktop for Mac.   It's just not there.     Where is it?   How do I access it?  

Thanks for getting back to this thread, westortho@mac.co. Allow me to chime in and provide additional information about exported data. 

Once you export data from QuickBooks, you have the option to save it wherever spot you want. If it is not in your Downloads section, you may consider checking out other folders on your computer. You may have saved it in another location. 

Moreover, let me attach this resource to help you set up export of Intuit Full Service Payroll Data to QuickBooks Online. It also covers steps on how to map your Chart of Accounts and send payroll to QuickBooks.

In addition, you can also check this link to learn about what to expect when you move from Intuit Online Payroll to QuickBooks Online Payroll. 

That's it! Please let me know if there's anything else I can do or if you have other questions about exporting data. I'll be happy to help you again. Keep safe always.

I am not exporting data FROM Quickbooks Desktop for mac; I am exporting data from Quickbooks Online Payroll TO QB desktop.   I have done it for years via Intuit payroll very easily.   I click export -- and an LLF file appears for me to import TO QB desktop.     When I click EXPORT in the QB Online payroll site, it never shows up ANYWHERE in my computer.  Not in my register, not on my desktop, not in the downloads folder -- not in any other folder in my laptop.  I have searched and searched -- it isn't there or it has an unfamiliar title.    All I want to do is issue paychecks online and be able to see those transactions, properly categorized, in my desktop software, as I have been able to do for 15 years.

Thank you for giving us details, westortho@mac.co.

I'd like to share what I know about exporting payroll data from QuickBooks Online payroll to Desktop for Mac.

First you'll need to set up the preferences:

1. Go to the Gear icon.
2. Select Payroll settings.
3. Click on the the Pencil icon next to Export.
4. Choose QuickBooks Desktop for Windows: downloadable IIF (Intuit Interchange Format) file and select Continue.
5. You'll be asked to type in the name of each account you are exporting your liabilities and expenses to.

Next is to export your payroll transactions:

1. Go to the Gear icon again.
2. Choose Payroll settings.
3. Select Export transactions in the Export section.
4. A screen will show you how many transactions and of which type are being exported.
5. After that, click Export.

The Intuit Interchange Format (IIF) file you created with QuickBooks Online is saved in whichever folder you selected when downloading it. I'd also recommend that you check your Download folder on your computer since this is a default folder for your downloaded files.

I'm also adding this article once you're ready to import it to QuickBooks Desktop for Mac: Import data into QuickBooks for Mac.

Let me know if you still have questions or clarifications about managing your payroll data. I'll be here to help. Have a great day!

Thank you so much for trying to help.   I tried to follow your instructions, including changing the settings to Download to Windows IIF which I didn't understand since I'm using Desktop for Mac.   All the accounts were already set up.  And as I had already "downloaded" the latest payroll data, the message was "nothing to download".    The set up on QB Online Payroll appears to have been correct all along -- but I just cannot find the downloaded files.   Is there a way to download the same files again and try to direct where they go?    I have never had a problem using any of these features with the Intuit Online Payroll  -- it's just a mystery where my files are going!

Hi there, westortho@mac.co.

Let me share additional information about downloading payroll data in QuickBooks Online. 

By default, the downloaded payroll and employee data from the program are stored in the Downloads folder. You'll want to open the download history of your browser to check the location of the file. Feel free to use these keyboard shortcuts:

• Google Chrome, Mircosoft Edge, and Mozilla Firefox: Crtl + J
• Safari: Command + Option + L

Once opened, locate the downloaded payroll data and then click the Show in folder link to view the file path. However, if you're still unable to locate the file, I'd recommend reaching out to your local IT technician for further support.

I'm also adding this article to learn more about how the new payroll plan works: Move from Intuit Online Payroll to QuickBooks Online Payroll Core.

Feel free to reach out to me again with any concerns or questions you may have. The Community always has your back.