Updated: March 01, 2025

.IIF File Extension

There is only one filetype that uses .IIF file extension and it is Intuit Interchange Format File.

Intuit Interchange Format File

File category:	Data Files
Developer:	Intuit
Open with:	Intuit QuickBooks Online (+5 more)
Platforms:	Windows, macOS, In-browser (Online), Linux, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, iPadOS

An IIF file, which stands for "Intuit Interchange Format", is a specialized data file format created by Intuit to facilitate the export and import of financial data in QuickBooks. It was introduced alongside QuickBooks as a means to allow users and other applications to easily share and transfer data between various systems, particularly when integrating with QuickBooks.

IIF files store information in a plain text format that is tab-delimited, meaning data is separated by tabs, much like a TSV (Tab-Separated Values) file. This makes it easy for other applications, especially spreadsheet programs like Microsoft Excel, to read and interpret the data. The format enables users to move transactional, payroll, and account information between different QuickBooks files or to external financial systems.

One of the key benefits of the IIF file format is its simplicity. While it's primarily designed for QuickBooks, its text-based structure allows it to be opened with a wide range of text editors, such as Microsoft Notepad or any other basic text viewer. This means that users can manually view or edit the content of an IIF file without needing special software, though doing so requires careful attention to formatting to avoid corrupting the file. Additionally, more complex data handling can be performed using spreadsheet software, which can display the data in a more user-friendly tabular format.

Despite being an older format, IIF remains in use due to its versatility and ease of use. However, QuickBooks has introduced newer methods for data exchange, such as the XML-based QBXML format, which offers more advanced capabilities for integrating with external software. Nevertheless, the IIF format continues to be popular for simpler data transfer tasks, especially for small businesses.

How to Open .IIF as Intuit Interchange Format File

To open an IIF file, users can simply import it into QuickBooks, or open it with any text editor or spreadsheet application, depending on their needs. The most common methods include using QuickBooks’ built-in import functionality or viewing the raw data in programs like Excel or Notepad. Both Windows and macOS environments fully support IIF files, making them accessible on different platforms.