Format CSV files in Excel to get bank transactions into QuickBooks
by Intuit•37• Updated 4 weeks ago
Note: This article is for customers using QuickBooks Online (Advanced, Essentials, Plus, and Simple Start) and Sole Trader.
Instead of connecting your bank and credit card accounts to QuickBooks, you can upload them manually. Usually, you download this file from your bank, but before you can upload it into QuickBooks you need to make sure the data is in the correct format.
Before you start
Learn about CSV formats
You can upload CSVs with either the following 3-column or 4-column format. These are the only columns QuickBooks can handle and this order.
The three mandatory fields needed to import successfully into QuickBooks are Date, Description and Amount columns.
The 3-column format
This format has a Date, Description, and Amount column.
A | B | C | |
1 | Date | Description | Amount |
2 | 1/1/2018 | Example of a payment | -100.00 |
3 | 1/1/2018 | Example of a deposit | 200.00 |
The 4-column format
This format has a Date, Description, Credit (money out), and Debit (money in) column.
A | B | C | D | |
1 | Date | Description | Credit | Debit |
2 | 1/1/2018 | Example of a payment | 100.00 | |
3 | 1/1/2018 | Example of a deposit | 200.00 |
Upload transactions into QuickBooks
When your file is formatted correctly, follow these steps to upload them into QuickBooks, and categorise them to keep your books tidy.
If you've uploaded the data to the wrong bank account, you'll need to exclude the transactions before re-uploading the CSV file to the right account.
We're here to help
If you're confused about how to review, match or categorise transactions, or need help with manually uploading them, let us know. Sign in to QuickBooks and start a discussion with a qualified QuickBooks expert in the community.
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