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sumner-bouldin
Level 1

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

I have looked at the QBO file and the bank acct # (ACCTID) is correct.
11 Comments 11
ChristieAnn
QuickBooks Team

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

Hi there, sumner-bouldin.

 

I'll provide information on why QuickBooks says the file format is not correct. And, to ensure that you would be able to import .CSV file into your account.

 

It could be there are formatting restrictions in your file, and that's why the system says the format is incorrect. That being said, I suggest checking the file format if it's accepted by QuickBooks. And, you can try to change/rename the file extension to lowercase as having done with other users to successfully importing transactions. Then, make sure that your file doesn’t break the following formatting limitations:

 

  • Special characters are not allowed.
  • Zeros (0) are not allowed anywhere in the file.
  • Correct any transactions that display an amount in the Description column.
  • Remove the word amount if it appears in the name of the Credit or Debit column.
  • MAC  users must save the file as a Windows CSV file.
  • Correct and standardize the Date format to a single format (for example, dd/mm/yyyy).
  • Some banks provide the day of the week and include it in the Date column (for example, 20/11/2018 TUE in column A) which is not an acceptable format. To correct this, split the date and the day of the week in two separate columns.

 

For additional information, here’s an article that you can check on: How to import bank transactions using Excel CSV files.

 

If the issue continues to occur upon importing, I suggest contacting our Customer Care Support. They have the tools to check your account and investigate the cause of the issue.

 

Please check this article to see steps on how to fix different banking errors: What to do if you see a bank error or bank transactions won’t download

 

As always, you can reach back out if you have further questions about importing transactions in QuickBooks Online. I’d be happy to answer it for you.

sumner-bouldin
Level 1

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

Thank you for the above information.  I will check all the fields you mention.  I have not found a way to change the file extension, but will work on that as well.

However, I downloaded several files successfully earlier in the day, the exact same way.  The extension is the same in the most recent file as it was in the other files successfully downloaded.  What changed?!

Rejeil_O
QuickBooks Team

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

Thank you for getting back here in the thread @sumner-bouldin,

 

Let me step in and give you additional help in uploading bank transactions. There are no changes happens in QuickBooks Online side. However, you can contact your financial institution to check if they have maintenance or updates in their end that might cause small problems in uploading your bank transactions. 

 

If still, your bank confirms that they don't have any changes on their side, you can follow the suggested troubleshooting steps provided by my colleague ChristieAnn to fix the issue. If the error persists, you can contact our QuickBooks Support so that they can help you import your bank transactions. Here's how to contact our QuickBooks Support:

 

Note: Due to COVID-19, we have limited staffing and have reduced our support hours to 6 AM-6 PM PT Monday-Friday. We will resume normal hours as soon as possible.

 

  1. Sign in to your QuickBooks Online account.
  2. Go to the Help icon.
  3. Click the Contact Us button.
  4. Enter your concern in the box (Importing bank transactions issue), then select Let's Talk.
  5. Choose either Start messaging or Get a call.
  6. Fill up all the information needed.
  7. Click the Confirm my call or Send message button.

 

For your future help, you can read this article to learn more about the CSV template format: Import bank transactions using Excel CSV files.

 

Just notify me by leaving a message in the comment section if you have additional questions. I'll be around here in the Community to help. Have a good one!

sumner-bouldin
Level 1

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

This seems to be a know issue in QB.  I found the below article.

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/your-books-or-my-company/fix-web-connect-import-er...

However, this article applies to QB Desktop, and I have the QB online version so most of the instructions do not apply.  This issue does not seem to be an issue with my bank.  The import worked flawlessly a couple of hours before I did another download.   I compared successful files with the ones stating that they aren't in the correct format, and they are the same - other than the transaction data.

How do I fix this?!  This glitch is seriously hindering my ability to get anything done!

sumner-bouldin
Level 1

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

Additionally, my bank offers .QBO files.  That is the only option.  That type file worked fine until suddenly it didn't.  SOS!

Kendra H
QuickBooks Team

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

Hello there, @sumner-bouldin

 

Thanks for responding to this thread. 

 

I want to ensure that you can upload transactions into QuickBooks Online (QBO). With that said, before uploading the file to QBO, review the file format and size. Since you mentioned your bank only has the option .QBO files, QBO files from your bank should already be formatted for QuickBooks. The maximum file size is 350 KB. I recommend checking out this article as it has additional information about how you can reformat your file and upload it: Manually upload transactions in QuickBooks Online.

 

If this issue persists, I suggest troubleshooting your browser to determine if this is a browser-related issue. You can refer to this detailed article for more info: Troubleshooting browser problems

 

Feel free to follow up with me and let me know how it goes. I'm always here to help. Have a safe and productive rest of your day.

sumner-bouldin
Level 1

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

The successful QBO file uploads and the one that is failing is way below the maximum size you mention.  Please note that the upload worked fine the same day it stopped working.  Nothing changed.  I have used the same browser I was using and tried another browser.  I have cleared the cache.  I have compared the downloaded QBO files and there is no difference other than the transaction detail of course.  I have tried downloading a smaller date range/smaller file.  NOTHING is working.  This is seriously hindering my ability to accomplish work deadlines.  SOS!

MariaSoledadG
QuickBooks Team

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

Hello there, sumner-bouldin.

 

I appreciate your time and effort in making the upload work as it should be. Let's try updating your bank sign-in information to refresh any changes made to your account information.

 

Here's how:

  1. Click Banking.
  2. Select Update. Make sure you have selected the appropriate account. QuickBooks Online tries to connect to your bank to manually update your account.
  3. Enter your updated username and password in one of the following ways:
    • If Error 103 appears, select the Reconnect my account link and enter your new username or password.
    • If no error message appears, select the Edit next to the bank name, select Edit sign-in info, and enter your updated bank website username or user ID and password.
  4. Click Save and connect. QuickBooks Online will try to connect with your bank to verify your information.
  5. Once you see a confirmation message, select I'm done, Let's go!

Once done, you can re-import bank transactions.

 

For future reference, you'll want to visit this article when you encounter errors when uploading your file: Fix Bank Upload Errors in QuickBooks Online.

 

Reach out to us if you have further questions. We're always right here to help.

sumner-bouldin
Level 1

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

There is no issue with the automated bank download/update/import of recent transactions.  I have this set to automated, and it continues to work without a problem.  My username and password with the bank have not changed.

The problem is in downloading transactions older than 30 days.  I am downloading data from over a year ago and started at the beginning of 2019 since a prior employee had not been doing so.  That process worked flawlessly for the first three months in 2019 which I imported two days ago.  An hour or so after successful imports, I started on the fourth month, and QB says the imported file is not recognized.  The file name, format, etc. is exactly the same as previously reported.  That is the issue I need to resolve.

sumner-bouldin
Level 1

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

Resolved!  I was not downloading the transaction file at the correct location.  Being new to online QB, I was using the wrong import.  Never mind, but thanks for the replies.

JenoP
Moderator

Why is QB saying the file format is not correct after I have successfully uploaded several months' QBO files, one at a time, from my bank into QB?

It's good to hear that you're able to resolve and import your file, sumner-bouldin.

 

There's really a lot of things to learn in QuickBooks Online. Please know that the Community is always here if you have any other questions while working in the program.

 

You can also check out our Getting Started Guides to know more the different features available in QBO:

 

 

Visit us again in the Community if you have other questions. 

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