QBO vs IIF vs CSV: which file should you import into QuickBooks?

QuickBooks accepts several ways of getting bank transactions in. Picking the right one saves cleanup time later.

QBO (Web Connect)

A QBO file is an OFX-based bank download. It imports into the For Review / Bank Feeds area where QuickBooks applies your bank rules and matching. It is the best choice for most users of both QuickBooks Online and Desktop because it behaves exactly like a bank feed and de-duplicates by transaction ID.

IIF (Interchange Format)

IIF is a tab-delimited format for QuickBooks Desktop that writes transactions directly to the register, including the offset account. It skips the review step, which is powerful for bulk historical clean-up but unforgiving: account names must already exist and mistakes post straight to the books. Always back up the company file before importing IIF.

CSV

QuickBooks Online can import a 3- or 4-column CSV through Upload transactions. It is flexible but requires column mapping each time, and Desktop does not accept CSV bank imports natively. Use CSV when you also need the data in a spreadsheet or another app.

Quick rule of thumb

Use QBO for day-to-day and catch-up imports, IIF for Desktop migrations where you already know the categories, and CSV for everything outside QuickBooks.