TXF Import Guide

How to Import Your TXF File

TurboTax Desktop

Go to File → Import → From Accounting Software (Windows) or File → Import → From TXF Files (Mac) and select your Kebab TXF export. TurboTax preserves individual per-charity donation records after import.

H&R Block Desktop

Go to File → Import Financial Information and select "Other program that supports Tax Exchange Format (TXF)". Note: H&R Block aggregates cash and non-cash donations into single totals, losing the per-charity breakdown.

What TXF Does Not Include

TXF files do not contain mileage or stock donations. Those are available in your CSV and PDF exports.

TurboTax Online users: TurboTax Online does not support TXF import. See our FAQ on TurboTax Online for alternatives.

Why TurboTax Asks for Extra Information After Importing

This is the most common question after importing a TXF file.

The TXF specification was established in 1991 and last updated by Intuit in November 2011 (version 042). It carries three fields per donation: organization name, date, and dollar amount.

Additional fields that TurboTax needs — date acquired, type of property, FMV method, cost basis, and organization address — cannot be included in a TXF file by any app. This is a universal format constraint, not a Kebab limitation.

Why Can’t I Open the TXF File on My Phone?

iOS and Android don’t know what a TXF file is. TXF is a tax-software interchange format (the “Tax Exchange Format,” in use since 1991), and neither mobile OS ships with a viewer for it. If you text, email, or AirDrop a TXF to yourself, it’s normal for your phone to say it can’t open the file. That’s not a Kebab bug, and it doesn’t mean the file is broken.

TXF files are meant to be imported directly into TurboTax Desktop or H&R Block Desktop on a Mac or Windows computer, not opened in a viewer.

If you really want to see what’s inside: a TXF file is plain text. You can copy it and rename the copy to end in .txt, and your phone will open it in any text viewer.

What to Enter for Each TurboTax Prompt

TurboTax Prompt	What to Enter	Why
Date acquired	Various	IRS-accepted for used household goods. See IRS Publication 561.
How acquired	Purchased	Default for most. Change if gift/inheritance.
Type of donated property	Clothing and household items	Most common Kebab category.
Method used to determine FMV	Thrift shop value	Method Kebab uses, per IRS Pub 561.
Cost or adjusted basis	Your best estimate, or $0	IRS understands records may not exist.
Organization address	Look up on charity's website or IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search	Not yet in Kebab's data; coming soon.

Items Over $500 — Form 8283

If your total non-cash donations to a single charity exceed $500, the IRS requires Form 8283, Section A with your tax return. The Kebab companion worksheet will flag these items for you.

If your total non-cash donations to a single charity exceed $5,000, a qualified appraisal and Form 8283, Section B are required.

What's Improving Soon

• Companion worksheet: A step-by-step guide that walks you through each TurboTax prompt using your actual donation data.
• Category-encoded entries: TXF records tagged with property type so TurboTax can pre-fill more fields.
• Consolidated entries: Option to group small donations by charity to simplify the import.
• Organization address storage: Charity addresses saved in Kebab so TurboTax can auto-fill them.

If You're Up Against the April 15 Deadline

Form 4868 gives you a free, automatic 6-month extension to file your federal tax return. You can file it electronically in minutes.

Important: An extension gives you more time to file, not more time to pay. If you owe taxes, estimate and pay by April 15 to avoid interest and penalties.

IRS References

• TXF v042 Specification taxdataexchange.org

  The official Tax Exchange Format specification used by TurboTax, H&R Block, and other tax software.

• IRS Publication 561: Determining the Value of Donated Property IRS.gov

  Official guidance on determining fair market value for non-cash donations including household items, clothing, and other property.

• Instructions for Form 8283: Noncash Charitable Contributions IRS.gov

  Instructions for the form required when non-cash donations to a single charity exceed $500.

• IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search IRS.gov

  Look up any charity's tax-exempt status, EIN, and address.

• Form 4868: Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File IRS.gov

  Free, automatic 6-month extension for filing your federal tax return.