Error: Invalid Reference to AccountList in AccountRef

You may receive this error when importing the Intuit Full Service Payroll IIF (Intuit Interchange File) into QuickBooks.

There are three possible causes for this error:

A pay type or deduction is assigned only to terminated employees and isn't appearing in Export to QuickBooks.

To fix the problem:

  1. Change the status of the terminated employee to Active.
    1. Click the Employees tab.
    2. From the Show drop-down, select Inactive Employees.
    3. Click the employee's name.
    4. In the Employment section, click Edit.
    5. From the Status drop-down arrow, select Active.
    6. Click Save.
  2. Review your Intuit Full Service Payroll export setup for missing accounts.
    1. Click the Account Settings tab.
    2. In the Export to QuickBooks section, click Edit.
  3. In the To QuickBooks column, look for fields with a missing account.
  4. Click Edit in the section you need to update, enter the missing account, and click Save.
  5. Click Save.
  6. Export your payroll data.
  7. Go back to the employee's profile and change the employment status back to Terminated.
Sub-accounts are set up with a space before or after the colon (:); between the account and sub-account names.

To fix the problem:

  1. Click the Account Settings tab.
  2. In the Export to QuickBooks section, click Edit.
  3. In the To QuickBooks Desktop column, look for account listings that contain both a parent account and sub-account. Then, look for extra spaces before or after the colon.

    Correct      Payroll Liabilities:Federal Taxes
    Incorrect       Payroll Liabilities : Federal Taxes

  4. Click Edit in the section you need to update.
  5. Remove the extra space(s) surrounding the colon in the account name and then click Save.
  6. Click Save.
  7. Export your payroll data again.
A work location has been recently set up, but doesn't appear in the Export to QuickBooks section.

Contact us to help you fix the problem.

See also