QBO to IIF Converter
Convert QBO bank statement files to IIF format for QuickBooks Desktop — Pro, Premier, and Enterprise. Free, browser-based, no upload.
Drop your QBO file here
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How to convert QBO to IIF
Get your QBO file
Download a QBO/OFX file from your bank or export from QuickBooks Online.
Upload QBO
Drop the file into the converter above — transactions are parsed automatically.
Import IIF
In QuickBooks Desktop: File > Utilities > Import > IIF Files.
QuickBooks Online to QuickBooks Desktop
QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop use completely different file formats for importing transactions, even though they're both made by Intuit. Online uses QBO (OFX SGML), the same format banks use for direct-download bank feeds. Desktop uses IIF (Intuit Interchange Format), a tab-delimited text format that predates OFX. There is no built-in way to import a QBO file into QuickBooks Desktop — the File > Import menu in Desktop doesn't even list QBO as an option.
This converter bridges the gap by parsing the OFX transaction data from your QBO file — dates, amounts, descriptions — and generating a properly structured IIF file with the TRNS, SPL, and ENDTRNS record blocks that QuickBooks Desktop's importer expects, including a matching double-entry offset line for each transaction.
This is especially useful when your bank only offers a QBO/OFX download (many banks stopped offering direct IIF exports years ago), or when migrating transaction history from a QuickBooks Online trial back to a Desktop installation.
How a QBO transaction becomes an IIF record
| QBO / OFX field | IIF field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DTPOSTED | DATE | Reformatted to MM/DD/YYYY |
| TRNAMT | AMOUNT | Mirrored on the SPL offset line as the negative |
| MEMO / NAME | MEMO | Copied to both TRNS and SPL lines |
| derived from sign | TRNSTYPE | DEPOSIT (positive) or CHECK (negative) |
| n/a | ACCNT | "Checking" for the primary line, "Income"/"Expense" for the offset |
Troubleshooting IIF imports
QuickBooks Desktop rejects the file or shows zero transactions imported. Make sure an account named "Checking" already exists in your chart of accounts before importing — QuickBooks Desktop's IIF importer needs the referenced account to exist, it won't create it for you.
Transactions import but amounts look reversed. IIF splits use double-entry accounting: the TRNS line carries the amount as-is, and the SPL line carries the exact opposite so the transaction balances to zero. This is expected — check the TRNS line amount, not the SPL line, for the actual transaction value.
I need everything under a specific bank account, not "Checking." Open the downloaded IIF file in a plain text editor and use Find/Replace to change "Checking" to your account's exact name (must match QuickBooks Desktop precisely, including capitalization) before importing.
Frequently asked questions
When would I need QBO to IIF conversion?
When you have bank statements in QBO (OFX) format — usually downloaded from your bank or exported from QuickBooks Online — but you run QuickBooks Desktop instead. QuickBooks Desktop imports transactions via IIF files, not QBO, so the two formats don't talk to each other without a converter.
What is the difference between QBO and IIF?
QBO (OFX SGML format) is the bank-feed format used by QuickBooks Online and most banks' 'download to QuickBooks' buttons. IIF (Intuit Interchange Format) is an older tab-delimited text format used by QuickBooks Desktop — Pro, Premier, and Enterprise. QuickBooks Online never uses IIF, and QuickBooks Desktop can't read QBO directly — they serve different generations of the same product line.
How do I import the IIF file into QuickBooks Desktop?
In QuickBooks Desktop, go to File > Utilities > Import > IIF Files. Select your downloaded IIF file and click Open. Transactions appear in your register immediately — QuickBooks doesn't ask for account mapping first, so double-check the target account before importing.
Can I use this to migrate from QuickBooks Online to Desktop?
Yes — this is one of the most common uses. If you can export your QuickBooks Online bank data as QBO/OFX files (or your bank offers a QBO download), this converter transforms them into IIF format that QuickBooks Desktop can import, letting you rebuild transaction history without re-typing it.
What account names does the IIF file use?
Transactions default to 'Checking' as the primary account, with 'Income' or 'Expense' as the offset account depending on whether the amount is positive or negative. You can rename these accounts in QuickBooks Desktop after import, or use Find/Replace in a text editor on the IIF file before importing if you need a different account name.
Will importing the IIF file create duplicate transactions?
QuickBooks Desktop's IIF import does not automatically deduplicate against existing register entries the way bank feed matching does. If you've already entered some of these transactions manually, review the register after import and remove duplicates, or only convert the date range you haven't entered yet.
Does the IIF file include categories or classes?
No — the converter maps each transaction to a generic Income or Expense offset account based on the amount's sign. It doesn't attempt to guess specific categories or QuickBooks classes; you'll categorize transactions in QuickBooks Desktop after import, same as with a fresh bank download.
My QuickBooks Desktop says 'IIF Import: transactions not imported.' What's wrong?
This usually means the Checking (or other referenced) account doesn't exist yet in your QuickBooks Desktop chart of accounts, or the file has a formatting issue. Create an account named exactly 'Checking' first (or edit the IIF file's ACCNT columns to match an existing account name), then retry the import.
Is my data safe?
Your data never leaves your browser. The conversion happens entirely in JavaScript on your device — no server upload, no account required, nothing stored.