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M
MDPWW2011
November 7, 2023
Question

Importing QBOPayroll to Desktop

  • November 7, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 21 views

Has anyone successfully imported paychecks from QBOPayroll to QBDesktop using .CSV?  Is there any guidance anywhere on this?

2 replies

Tori B
Tori BQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
November 7, 2023

Hi there, @MDPWW2011.

 

Thanks for reaching out. I hope you're having a great day so far. 

 

Currently, the option to export payroll data from QuickBooks Desktop via CSV file is unavailable. However, I have another solution you can use to move the data to Online. 

 

First, you'll need to ensure you have the latest update in Desktop: 

 

  1. In QuickBooks, press F2 (or CTRL+1) to open the Product Information window.
  2. Check your current version and release. You’ll have greater success if you have the following QuickBooks versions and releases or higher: 2019 R17, 2020 R15, 2021 R10, and 2022 R5.
  3. Update QuickBooks Desktop to the latest release if needed.

 

Next, move your QuickBooks Desktop Payroll file to QuickBooks Online Payroll. Here's how: 

 

  1. Sign in as an admin to the company file you need to import.
  2. Go to Company, then select Export Company File to QuickBooks Online.
  3. Select Get Started to export your data.
  4. Click on Export all your company data, then Continue. Since your QuickBooks Online Payroll file doesn't have accounting turned on, none of your accounting info will export.
  5. Sign in as an admin to your QuickBooks Online account.
  6. Choose the QuickBooks Online company you want to move your payroll info to. If you have multiple companies, select the one you want from the list.
  7. Hit Continue.
  8. Choose Export.
  9. Once the Export completes, sign in to your QuickBooks Online Payroll.
  10. Check out this guide to finish your setup and run your payroll in QuickBooks Online.

 

That should do the trick. For additional details about this process, check out: Move your QuickBooks Desktop Payroll data to QuickBooks Online Payroll. 

 

Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I'm always happy to lend a hand. Take care! 

M
MDPWW2011Author
November 7, 2023

Thank you for the response, however I am asking about QBO Payroll being imported into QB Desktop.  I need QB Payroll paychecks and tax payments imported into QB Desktop and IIF is not an option.

M
MirriamMQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
November 7, 2023

Hi there, MDPWW2011. Let me join the thread and provide information about importing payroll data from QuickBooks Online Payroll (QBOP) to QuickBooks Desktop (QBDT).

 

If you use payroll within your QuickBooks Online (QBO) account, the option to export payroll data to QBDT via IIF is unavailable. As a workaround, you can add your employee's prior paychecks by entering consolidated pay stubs for every quarter.

 

To do this, you can use the pay stubs of your employees or run payroll reports on your QBOP account.

 

Once ready, you can start following the steps in Steps 2-4 on this article: Add payroll info to QuickBooks Desktop Payroll when you already paid employees this year.

 

You may also consider seeing this video for your visual reference: https://youtu.be/uex7NfCksyY.

 

For future reference, you can visit our Community Help page to guide you on how to get started in QBDT.

 

If there's anything else I can do for you in importing your payroll data in QBDT, let me know by commenting below. I'm more than happy to help. Have a great day!

P
PollNofer
September 23, 2025

Desktop does not support full payroll imports from CSV. Most people post summary journals or re enter key data. If you move to QBO later a tool like Skyvia can automate monthly payroll summaries from a CSV.

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