Import CSV or Excel into QuickBooks Desktop: convert CSV or Excel to QBO

QuickBooks Desktop imports QBO and IIF files. Convert your CSV or Excel file to QBO first, then import it. Read the full QuickBooks Desktop import guide.

What is a CSV file

CSV (comma-separated values) is a plain text file with one transaction per row and columns for date, amount, description and other fields. Every bank and payment service uses its own column names and layout, so no two CSV files look exactly the same. An Excel file (XLS or XLSX) works the same way here.

CSV column mapping

Different CSV files use different column names. A PayPal export uses different headers than a bank export. ProperConvert detects the columns automatically in most cases. If your CSV has unusual column names or splits amounts into separate debit and credit columns, use the manual mapping option to tell the app which column contains which value. Once mapped, the app remembers the layout for the next file from the same source. See CSV column mapping.

Can any CSV file be converted?

Most bank and credit card CSV files can be converted. The file needs at least a date column and an amount column. Files that put deposits and withdrawals in separate columns, or use unusual date formats, may need manual column mapping before converting. Remove any summary rows above or below the transactions.

What is a QBO file

QBO is the Web Connect format that QuickBooks Desktop uses to import bank transactions. It has a fixed structure that QuickBooks expects, with fields for the date, amount, payee, memo, check number and a transaction ID. More about QBO.

Why convert CSV to QBO

Banks and credit card companies let you download transactions as CSV files, but QuickBooks Desktop doesn't import CSV in its banking section. It needs QBO (Web Connect). A CSV can use any columns, while QBO has fixed fields, so the columns don't match what QuickBooks reads. Converting lets you import without manual data entry.

Common reasons to convert CSV to QBO:

• Your bank provides transaction downloads only as CSV, not as QBO or OFX
• You exported transactions from PayPal, Stripe or another payment service and need them in QuickBooks
• You have transaction data in Excel and want to add it to a QuickBooks account
• You need to import historical transactions that are no longer available as a direct bank download

Can I import a CSV file into QuickBooks Online?

QuickBooks Online imports CSV, QBO, QFX and OFX files through the Banking section using the Upload button. When you upload a CSV, it reads only the date, amount and description. When you upload an OFX, QBO or QFX file, it also reads the payee, memo and check number, and uses the transaction ID to skip transactions that were already imported. So converting first gives better results there too.

Before you import: back up QuickBooks

Back up your QuickBooks company file before you import any file, so you can restore it if something comes in wrong. On Windows, click File > Back Up Company > Create Local Backup. On a Mac, click File > Back Up, then Start Backup.

Step by step: convert CSV or Excel to QBO

1. Download, install and start ProperConvert. The trial is free.
2. Open your CSV or Excel file.
3. Review the transactions to see how the app read your file. Check that the dates are correct, and that expenses are negative and deposits (payments to the account) are positive. The "Change +/-" button reverses the signs for the whole file, for bank and credit card accounts alike.
4. Set the QBO settings below.
5. Click Convert, then confirm the file name and location.

Set the QBO output settings

In the QBO/QFX/OFX tab on the right sidebar, set the file type to QBO, then set:

• Account ID: digits only. Use the same ID for every file of one account and a different ID for each account. The real account number is the easiest choice. See QBO files for multiple accounts.
• Account type: checking, savings or credit card. It must match the account you import into.
• Currency: must be USD for the QuickBooks Desktop US edition, USD or CAD for the Canadian edition.
• INTU.BID: must be a bank label QuickBooks allows for this account type. Click Lookup to pick one, or use any allowed value if your bank isn't listed. See INTU.BID.

QBO has no expense or income account. You assign those in QuickBooks after the import. See all QBO settings and the QBO format.

Import the QBO file into QuickBooks Desktop

QuickBooks imports QBO files only in versions up to about three years old. For an older version, use IIF.

On Windows:

1. If the account shows a lightning bolt icon in the Chart of Accounts, it is connected to online banking. Right-click it, choose Edit Account, click Bank Feed Settings, and choose Deactivate All Online Services.
2. Click File > Utilities > Import > Web Connect Files and open the QBO file.
3. Select Use an existing QuickBooks account, choose the account, and click Continue.
4. Open Banking > Bank Feeds > Bank Feeds Center, choose a payee and an expense or income account for each transaction, and click Add/Approve.

On a Mac, turn off the account's online settings, click File > Import > From Web Connect, choose the account, then match each transaction and add it.

Importing the same period twice can create duplicates. If QuickBooks shows an error, see QuickBooks import errors.

QuickBooks Desktop QBO questions

Do I need to match the bank name in the QBO file to my actual bank?

No. The INTU.BID value in the QBO file sets the bank label QuickBooks shows during import. It does not need to match your real bank. If your bank is not in the list, use any allowed value. The transactions will import correctly regardless.

Why does QuickBooks show a yellow icon on my account before importing?

The yellow icon means the account is connected to online banking (direct download). QuickBooks does not allow QBO file imports into a connected account. You need to disconnect the account from online services first, then import the QBO file.

How is a QBO file different from an OFX file?

QBO and OFX use the same base format. QBO files include an extra field (INTU.BID) that QuickBooks uses to identify the bank. For most purposes they are interchangeable, but QuickBooks Desktop expects the QBO variant for Web Connect imports.

Why does QuickBooks say my bank does not support Web Connect?

The bank ID in the QBO file is not one QuickBooks recognizes. A converter sets the bank ID from its own list. Choose a listed bank, or use an ID that QuickBooks accepted before.

Why did QuickBooks create a new account instead of using mine?

The account ID in the file does not match the ID QuickBooks stored for the existing account. Use the same account ID as the last successful import, or connect the file to the existing account when QuickBooks asks.

Why are transactions missing or doubled after import?

QuickBooks skips rows whose transaction ID it has seen before. Missing rows usually mean repeated IDs in the file. Doubled rows usually mean a statement that was already imported with different IDs. Both are fixed by importing each period once, with IDs that stay the same for the same transaction.