How to Open IIF File: View, Check & Import into QuickBooks
An IIF file is a QuickBooks Desktop import file: tab-separated text with customers, vendors, accounts, items or transactions. QuickBooks Desktop imports it with File > Utilities > Import > IIF Files, and Excel or any text editor can open it for editing. QuickBooks Online doesn't accept IIF. The free checker below shows what's in an IIF file and finds the errors that make imports fail, such as unbalanced transactions or missing headers, before you touch your company file.
Choose what you need
Open IIF File Online: Check It Before Importing to QuickBooks (Free)
Drop an .iif file below. The checker lists every record type (accounts, customers, vendors, items, transactions), shows the transactions with their split lines and finds the errors that break QuickBooks imports: unbalanced transactions, missing headers or ENDTRNS lines, extra columns, wrong date formats and accounts that aren't defined. Export the contents to CSV or Excel.
Good to know: the checker only reads the file; it doesn't change it or your QuickBooks data. Back up your company file before any IIF import.
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What is an IIF file?
IIF (Intuit Interchange Format) is a tab-delimited text format for moving lists and transactions into and out of QuickBooks Desktop for Windows. QuickBooks exports lists (chart of accounts, customers, vendors, items) as IIF, and many third-party apps (e-commerce, payroll, point of sale, time tracking) create IIF files to send their data to QuickBooks.
Intuit doesn't offer technical support for IIF imports, and an import can't be undone with a single click, so it's worth checking the file before importing it. That's what the tool above does.
| Full name | Intuit Interchange Format |
|---|---|
| Format | Plain text, tab-separated, header rows start with "!" |
| Used by | QuickBooks Desktop for Windows (not QuickBooks Online) |
| Contains | Lists (ACCNT, CUST, VEND, INVITEM, EMP…) and transactions (TRNS/SPL) |
| Related | .qbo, .qbw, .csv, .iif exports from other apps |
How to open an IIF file: quick answer
| What you want | Use |
|---|---|
| See what's inside and find errors | The checker above |
| Import into QuickBooks Desktop | File > Utilities > Import > IIF Files |
| Edit it | Excel (open as tab-delimited text) or a text editor |
| QuickBooks Online | Not supported: convert to CSV or use an import app |
How an IIF file is built
Each block starts with a header row beginning with ! that names the columns, followed by data rows of that type. A transaction is a TRNS line, one or more SPL (split) lines and an ENDTRNS line, and the amounts must add up to zero:
List records work the same way: !CUST followed by CUST rows, !ACCNT followed by ACCNT rows, and so on.
Import an IIF file into QuickBooks Desktop
- Check the file with the tool above and fix any problems it reports.
- In QuickBooks, back up your company file (File > Back Up Company). This is the only easy way to undo a bad import.
- Sign in as the admin and switch to Single-user mode if you're in multi-user mode.
- Go to File > Utilities > Import > IIF Files (called Import IIF in recent versions), select the file and confirm the import.
- Check the imported lists or transactions (for example in the register or a Transaction Detail report).
Imported transactions aren't linked to each other: an invoice and its payment both import, but you must link them yourself in Receive Payments or Pay Bills. IIF files also can't move data between country versions of QuickBooks (for example US to Canada).
Open and edit an IIF file in Excel
- In Excel choose File > Open, set the file type to All Files and select the .iif.
- In the Text Import Wizard choose Delimited with Tab as the delimiter and finish.
- Edit the cells. Format account numbers and codes as text so Excel doesn't drop leading zeros.
- Save as Text (Tab delimited) and keep the .iif extension. When Excel asks to save in its own format on closing, choose Don't Save.
Then run the edited file through the checker again before importing.
IIF and QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online doesn't import IIF files. Options:
- For customer, vendor or product lists: download the CSV from the checker above and use QuickBooks Online's import for that list (Settings > Import data).
- For bank transactions: QuickBooks Online uploads CSV, QBO, QFX and OFX files instead (see our QBO guide).
- For journal entries and invoices: use a third-party import app from the QuickBooks App Store.
IIF problems and fixes
"Transaction not in balance"
The TRNS and SPL amounts of a transaction don't add up to zero. The checker lists each unbalanced transaction with its line number and the difference.
"Your IIF file contains errors" or records are skipped
A data row has no matching ! header, a TRNS block is missing its ENDTRNS, or a text field contains a tab, which shifts the columns. The checker reports all three.
Dates import wrong
US QuickBooks Desktop expects MM/DD/YYYY. Excel may change dates to another format when saving; the checker flags dates in other formats.
New accounts appear with the wrong type
If a transaction uses an account that doesn't exist, QuickBooks creates it, often with the wrong type. Add an ACCNT block with the correct types, or create the accounts first. The checker lists accounts used but not defined.
Leading zeros disappeared
Excel removed them from codes or account numbers. Re-edit with those columns formatted as text.
Sources and technical references
- Export, import, and edit IIF files — Intuit QuickBooks Support
- Manually upload transactions into QuickBooks Online — Intuit
- QuickBooks — Wikipedia
Frequently asked questions
How do I open an IIF file?
To import it, use QuickBooks Desktop: File > Utilities > Import > IIF Files. To see or edit it, open it in Excel as tab-delimited text or in any text editor. The checker on this page shows its contents and errors.
Can QuickBooks Online import IIF files?
No. IIF works only with QuickBooks Desktop. For QuickBooks Online, convert lists to CSV and use Settings > Import data, upload bank transactions as CSV or QBO, or use an import app.
What does 'transaction not in balance' mean?
The amounts on the TRNS line and its SPL lines don't add up to zero. The checker on this page lists each unbalanced transaction with its line number and the difference so you can fix it.
How do I edit an IIF file in Excel?
Open it with File > Open and All Files, import it as tab-delimited, edit it, and save as tab-delimited text with the .iif extension. Format codes as text to keep leading zeros.
Can I undo an IIF import?
Not directly. Restore the backup you made before importing. That's why you should always back up the company file first and check the IIF file beforehand.
Why did my IIF import create new accounts?
A transaction used an account name that didn't exist, so QuickBooks created it, often with the wrong type. The checker lists accounts that are used but not defined.
What can an IIF file contain?
Lists such as the chart of accounts, customers, vendors, employees and items, and transactions such as checks, deposits, invoices, bills and journal entries.
Is an IIF file safe to open?
Yes. It's plain text and can't run code. The risk is importing wrong data, so check it first and keep a backup.
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