How to Import Time into QuickBooks Desktop with an IIF File

QuickBooks Desktop imports time through IIF, a tab-delimited format QuickBooks has carried for decades. IIF is fast and it is unforgiving: there's no preview and no undo, which is why the first step below isn't optional.

JULY 30, 2026 · BY THE CLOX TEAM

Back up first

File, then Back Up Company. IIF imports write directly into your company file, and a bad import is easiest to fix by not needing to. It takes thirty seconds and can save you hours.

The file QuickBooks Desktop expects

An IIF timer file: tab-delimited, with header rows describing the time activities and one row per employee per day per project carrying date, employee name, duration, and optionally customer, job, and service item. Hand-building IIF in a spreadsheet is where most import problems start; export it from software instead. Clox produces the IIF from Reports, Export, then QuickBooks Desktop (IIF). If the export isn't in your Reports menu yet, enable the provider first in Settings under Integrations; each enabled provider adds its export format to the menu.

Back up the company file (File, then Back Up Company).
As of July 2026 the import path is File, then Utilities, then Import, then IIF Files.
Select the .iif file. Recent QuickBooks versions warn about IIF imports; the warning is generic, acknowledge it.
QuickBooks reports how many records imported. If the number doesn't match your shift count, stop and restore the backup rather than importing a "fixed" file on top.
Open a weekly timesheet for one employee and verify hours and job assignments landed.

Mistakes to avoid with IIF

Name mismatches create instead of failing. An unrecognized employee or customer name can create a new list entry rather than erroring. Misspellings become duplicate employees, quietly. Match names exactly before importing.

Edited files break invisibly. Opening an IIF in Excel and re-saving can mangle tabs and dates. If a file needs fixing, fix the source data and re-export.

Importing twice doubles time. Same rule as every import: once, after approval.

FAQ

Is IIF still supported?

Yes, with warnings. QuickBooks Desktop still imports IIF as of July 2026, and time data remains one of its common uses.

Can I undo an IIF import?

No. Restore the backup you made in step one. This is the whole reason step one exists.

Why not enter time manually?

At one employee, fine. At a crew, a weekly IIF from approved punches replaces an hour of typing with a minute of importing.

Export an approved week as an IIF file instead of typing it in. Free for 14 days.