How Do I Print The Chart Of Accounts In QuickBooks?

In QuickBooks Online, the Chart of Accounts is accessed under Accounting → Chart of Accounts; in Desktop, it’s under Lists → Chart of Accounts.

The Chart of Accounts (COA) is your financial backbone—it lists every account your business uses to track income, expenses, assets, liabilities, and equity. Printing or exporting it gives you a clean snapshot for reviews, compliance checks, or even moving to a new company file. In QuickBooks Online, you’ll find it under the Accounting menu; in Desktop versions, it hides under Lists.

For QuickBooks Online (2026), use Accounting → Chart of Accounts → Run Report → Export (Excel or PDF).

QuickBooks Online (as of 2026)

1. Open the Chart of Accounts: From the left-side navigation, click Accounting → Chart of Accounts.
2. Run the Report: At the top right of the COA list, click Run Report. This gives you a full report view.
3. Export to Excel or PDF: In the top-right corner of the report, click the Export icon (looks like a spreadsheet or PDF symbol). Pick your format and save the file.

In QuickBooks Desktop (Enterprise, Pro, Premier – 2025+), use Lists → Chart of Accounts → Account → Print List (Ctrl+P).

QuickBooks Desktop (Enterprise, Pro, Premier – 2025+)

1. Open the COA: Click Lists → Chart of Accounts (or press Ctrl+A).
2. Open the Print Dialog: At the bottom of the COA window, click the Account button, then choose Print List… (shortcut: Ctrl+P).
3. Choose Print or Preview: In the Print Lists window, select Print to send it straight to your default printer, or choose Preview to review before printing.

If the standard export fails, try exporting via IIF (Desktop), using Accountant Tools (Online Accountant), or saving as PDF via browser print.

Alternative 1: Export via IIF (Desktop Only)

If the standard print method fails or you need the raw data for migration:

1. Go to File → Utilities → Export → Lists to IIF Files.
2. Check Chart of Accounts and click OK.
3. Save the .IIF file to your desktop. You can open it in Excel after importing into another QuickBooks file.

(Honestly, these files aren’t pretty to look at—just raw data. They’re perfect for moving data between QuickBooks files, but terrible for sharing with non-accountants.)

Alternative 2: Use Accountant Tools (QuickBooks Online Accountant)

If you’re using QuickBooks Online Accountant, there’s another way in:

1. Click Accountant Tools in the left menu.
2. Choose Chart of Accounts.
3. Run the report and export as above.

Alternative 3: Export as PDF via Browser Print

If the built-in export option is missing or acting up:

1. Run the Chart of Accounts report.
2. Click the Print icon in your browser.
3. Choose Save as PDF (Chrome, Edge, or Firefox) instead of sending it to a physical printer.

To avoid future issues, schedule quarterly exports, enable account numbers in Desktop, back up before migration, and verify user permissions.

• Schedule Regular Exports: Set a quarterly reminder to export your COA—especially before big changes like software updates or company rebranding.
• Use Account Numbers: In Desktop versions, turn on account numbers (via Edit → Preferences → Accounting → Use account numbers) to make the COA easier to read and export.
• Backup Before Migration: If you’re moving to a new company file, export the COA first via Gear → Import Data → Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks Online, or use IIF export in Desktop.
• Check Permissions: Make sure your user role has “Accountant” or “Full Access” permissions to view and export the COA—especially in shared or client files.

I once had a client panic when QuickBooks Online glitched during an export. Turns out, clearing the browser cache and trying again in Incognito mode fixed it—no reinstall needed. Always worth a quick tech check before digging deeper.

According to Intuit Support, the COA export function has been stable since 2024, but browser extensions or outdated versions of QuickBooks can cause hiccups. If printing fails, try a different browser or update your software.

For broader context on financial reporting standards, see FASB and IFRS guidelines on maintaining accurate Chart of Accounts structures.

How do I find the Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks?

In the client QuickBooks Online company, click the Accountant Tools button and choose Chart of Accounts to display the Chart of Accounts page. You also can open the Chart of Accounts from the Navigation bar (under Transactions) and from Gear menu on the QBOA toolbar.

How do I view Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks desktop?

To navigate to the Chart of Accounts click on Lists in the Windows menu and then Chart of Accounts.

How do I copy a Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks desktop?

1. Go to File menu, then select Utilities.
2. Select Export, then Lists to IIF Files.
3. Select the list you want to export (which is Chart of Accounts), then select OK.
4. Browse the location where you want to save your file and select Save.

Can I export my Chart of Accounts from QuickBooks?

You can export the chart of accounts—it works a little differently than the other lists you can export. If you go to Accounting → Chart of Accounts → Run Report in the top right, you’ll then see an export to Excel or PDF symbol in the top right.

What is a chart of accounts examples?

Numeric Range	Account Type	Financial Report
200 – 299	Liabilities	Balance Sheet
300 – 399	Equity	Balance Sheet
400 – 499	Revenue	Profit & Loss
500 – 599	Cost of Goods Sold	Profit & Loss

What are the 5 main account types in the chart of accounts QuickBooks?

QuickBooks supplies the following account types: Income, Expense, Fixed Asset, Bank, Loan, Credit Card, and Equity, as well as (if you select Other Account Types and open the Other Accounts Types drop-down list) Accounts Receivable, Other Current Asset, Other Asset, Accounts Payable, Other Current Liability, Long Term ...

What are the 3 golden rules of accounts?

• Debit the receiver, credit the giver.
• Debit what comes in, credit what goes out.
• Debit all expenses and losses and credit all incomes and gains.

How do I add a new account to the chart of accounts in QuickBooks?

1. Go to Settings ⚙ and select Chart of Accounts.
2. Select New to create a new account.
3. In the Account Type ▼ dropdown, choose an account type.
4. In the Detail Type, select the detail type that best fits the transactions you want to track.
5. Give your new account a name.

How do I export a chart of accounts in QuickBooks online?

1. In the “Chart of Account” screen, select “Run Report” button.
2. On the top right corner of the account list, you will see four icons: email, print, export and settings. Select the export icon to export to an Excel or PDF document.

How do I batch edit chart of accounts in QuickBooks desktop?

1. Go to the Accounting menu.
2. Select Chart of Accounts.
3. Select Batch edit in the Action column.
4. Add account numbers in the Number column.
5. Once done, select Save and Done.

How do I transfer a chart of accounts to a new company in QuickBooks online?

1. Log in to QuickBooks Online.
2. Go to the Gear icon.
3. Click Import data under Tools.
4. Select Chart of Accounts.
5. Browse and choose the file. Then select Open.
6. Select Next.

What is QuickBooks IIF file?

The IIF file format, Intuit Interchange Format, is a proprietary text file used by Intuit’s QuickBooks software for importing and exporting lists and transactions. As of 2004, QuickBooks can also import data using the XML-based qbXML file exchange format.

How do I transfer data from one QuickBooks account to another?

1. Log in to your client’s existing account.
2. Go to the Gear icon.
3. Choose Export data.
4. Toggle the data you want to export to On.
5. Click the Export to Excel button.

How do I delete a Chart of Accounts in QuickBooks desktop?

To delete the accounts, go to Accounting → Chart of Accounts → Select the top check-box on the left to batch select all accounts → Select ‘Batch actions’ → Delete on the drop-down.