Transferring Payroll Data to QuickBooks Desktop Using an IIF File

Overview

This article explains how to transfer payroll data from Payroll Relief to QuickBooks Desktop using an IIF (Intuit Interchange Format) file. Use this guidance as the recommended method for moving payroll data into QuickBooks Desktop in place of the legacy Payroll Link (QuickBooks Desktop) integration.

About the Payroll Link (QuickBooks Desktop) Integration

The Payroll Link (QuickBooks Desktop) integration relied on third-party technology that is no longer supported. As a result, Payroll Link (QuickBooks Desktop) transfer issues — such as the company drop-down not populating or access errors when attempting to select a company — can no longer be investigated or troubleshooted. The recommended alternative is to manually transfer payroll data by exporting an IIF file from Payroll Relief and importing it into QuickBooks Desktop.

How to Export the IIF File from Payroll Relief

Follow these steps to export payroll data from Payroll Relief as an IIF file:

  1. In Payroll Relief, navigate to Integration > Export G/L.
  2. Select the appropriate date range.
  3. Choose IIF as the file type.
  4. Select View, then select the Export button at the bottom of the screen.
  5. Save the ZIP file to your local computer.
  6. Extract the ZIP file and move the IIF file out of the ZIP folder.

How to Import the IIF File into QuickBooks Desktop

Once the IIF file has been extracted, import it into QuickBooks Desktop to complete the transfer:

  1. Open QuickBooks Desktop and ensure you are logged into the appropriate company file.
  2. Import the extracted IIF file into QuickBooks Desktop using the standard IIF import process.
  3. After the import completes, verify that the payroll data is reflected correctly in QuickBooks Desktop.

Key Takeaways

  • The Payroll Link (QuickBooks Desktop) integration is no longer supported, and related transfer issues cannot be investigated or troubleshooted.
  • Payroll data can still be transferred to QuickBooks Desktop manually by exporting an IIF file from Payroll Relief.
  • The IIF file is exported through Integration > Export G/L in Payroll Relief.
  • The exported file downloads as a ZIP and must be extracted before importing into QuickBooks Desktop.
  • After import, confirm that payroll data appears correctly in QuickBooks Desktop.