Convert CSV to QBO | An All-Encompassing Guide

Last Updated on December 11, 2025

Comma-Separated Values or CSV files are simple text files containing data separated by commas. This means that a comma is used to separate each field in the file. Most of the spreadsheets support this format. You can also convert CSV to QBO within the website itself. You can convert fields like customers, vendors, items, transactions, etc., with the help of the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV toolkit. In this blog, we’ll cover all the steps you need to know to convert the CSV file to QuickBooks Online.

Are you having issues converting your CSV file to QuickBooks Online? Contact our Accounting Helpline’s experts at 1.855.738.2784 today to resolve your problem at a moment’s notice!

Table of Contents

What Does the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV Toolkit Contain?

The QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV toolkit contains the items given in the list below:

Import from Excel and CSV Manual – This contains a PDF manual with instructions, best practices, and notes.
CSV Examples Folder – This contains four sample CSV files, one for each type of list.
XLS Example Folder – This contains a sample Excel file with four worksheets, one for each type of list.
Allowed fields – This contains a reference guide to tell you what fields are available for Excel and CSV import.

This is what the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV toolkit contains. Now, let us see the steps to import a CSV file into QB Online.

Import CSV Files Into QuickBooks Online With Guided Steps

Listed below are the steps you can implement to convert your CSV files into QuickBooks Online:

Install the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV Toolkit

You can install the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV toolkit to convert your CSV files into QuickBooks Online with the steps given below:

Download the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV Toolkit.
Then, proceed to open the QuickBooks_Import_Excel_and_CSV.exe file you downloaded on your Windows Desktop to open the WinZip Self-Extractor window.
Click on Browse.
Choose where you wish to install the toolkit on your PC.
Hit OK.
Select Unzip to extract the contents.
Hit Close to close the Winzip Self-Extractor window.
Lastly, open the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV folder from where you installed it.

You can now use the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV toolkit to convert CSV to QBO. Now, let’s see the steps to import different CSV lists into QuickBooks Online manually.

Manually Import the CSV Files Into QuickBooks Online

Given below are the steps you can use to manually import your CSV files into QuickBooks Online:

Step 1: Learn About the CSV Formats

Given below are the examples of 3-column and 4-column CSV formats:

3-Column Format

	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

4-Column Format

	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

Step 2: Format the CSV File

Do the following before you convert CSV to QBO:

Zeroes – Make sure to remove any zeroes from the file and leave those fields blank.
Description – Ensure to correct any transactions that display numbers in the Description column.
Credit or Debit – Remove the “amount” word from the Credit or Debit column header. You should only use Credit or Debit without the word “amount.”
Mac – If you’re using a Mac, you should save the file as a Windows CSV file.
Dates – Ensure that the dates are in one format. QB recommends that you use the dd/mm/yyyy format.
Days of the week – Some banks add the day of the week in the Date column, for example: 20/12/2019 WED. You have to remove the day of the week from the date column. To do so, you can split the date and the day of the week into separate columns.
Open the CSV in Microsoft Excel:
- Highlight the column containing the date.
- Navigate to Data.
- Click on Text to Columns.
- Follow the steps on your screen and select the following:
  - Original data type: Delimited
  - Delimiters: Space
  - Column data format: General

Step 3: Upload the CSV List in QuickBooks Online

Follow the steps given below to upload the CSV list in QuickBooks Online. You can include up to 1,000 lines per upload, where each line contains one transaction.

Select the tile for the account you wish to upload transactions into.
Click on the Link Account dropdown menu.
Then, select Upload from file.
Press the Drag and drop or select files option.
Select the CSV file list.
Press Continue.
Click on the Select account dropdown menu.
Choose the account you wish to upload the transactions into.
Hit Continue.
Then, choose the transactions you would like to import.
Press Continue.
Click on Yes.
Select Done.

This would convert CSV to QBO for free.

Convert CSV to QBO – A Quick View Table

Given in the table below is a concise summary of this blog on the topic of converting CSV files to QuickBooks Online:

Description	You can convert CSV to QBO in order to directly import lists such as transactions, items, vendors, customers, etc. This can help you cut down time and boost your workflow and important business processes.
Using the CSV to QBO file converter	1. Download the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV Toolkit. 2. Then, proceed to open the QuickBooks_Import_Excel_and_CSV.exe file you downloaded on your Windows Desktop to open the WinZip Self-Extractor window. 3. Click on Browse. 4. Choose where you wish to install the toolkit on your PC. 5. Hit OK. 6. Select Unzip to extract the contents. 7. Hit Close to close the Winzip Self-Extractor window. 8. Lastly, open the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV folder from where you installed it.
Manually uploading the CSV files to QBO	1. Select the tile for the account you wish to upload transactions into. 2. Click on the Link Account dropdown menu. 3. Then, select Upload from file. 4. Press the Drag and drop or select files option. 5. Select the CSV file list. 6. Press Continue. 7. Click on the Select account dropdown menu. 8. Choose the account you wish to upload the transactions into. 9. Hit Continue. 10. Then, choose the transactions you would like to import. 11. Press Continue. 12. Click on Yes. 13. Select Done.

Conclusion

You can convert CSV to QBO to import lists and data into your QuickBooks Online account. This can help you cut time as you don’t have to make manual entries for every item or transaction. This can boost your workflow and have a positive impact on your business progress. We have covered the steps you need to know to import CSV files into QBO using the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV toolkit, along with the steps to manually import the CSV file into QB Online. If you are having trouble converting your CSV file to QuickBooks Online, contact our Accounting Helpline’s experts at 1.855.738.2784 today to resolve your issue in no time!

FAQs

How do I convert CSV to QBO?

You can convert CSV to QBO using the steps given below:
– Select the tile for the account you wish to upload transactions into.
– Click on the Link Account dropdown menu.
– Then, select Upload from file.
– Press the Drag and drop or select files option.
– Select the CSV file list.
– Press Continue.
– Click on the Select account dropdown menu.
– Choose the account you wish to upload the transactions into.
– Hit Continue.
– Then, choose the transactions you would like to import.
– Press Continue.
– Click on Yes.
– Select Done.

Can I Convert CSV to QBO?

Yes, you can convert CSV to QBO using the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV toolkit. The steps to download and install the toolkit are given below:
– Download the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV Toolkit.
– Then, proceed to open the QuickBooks_Import_Excel_and_CSV.exe file you downloaded on your Windows Desktop to open the WinZip Self-Extractor window.
– Click on Browse.
– Choose where you wish to install the toolkit on your PC.
– Hit OK.
– Select Unzip to extract the contents.
– Hit Close to close the Winzip Self-Extractor window.
– Lastly, open the QuickBooks Import Excel and CSV folder from where you installed it.

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Edward Martin

Edward Martin is a Technical Content Writer for our leading Accounting firm. He has over 10 years of experience in QuickBooks and Xero. He has also worked with Sage, FreshBooks, and many other software platforms. Edward’s passion for clarity, accuracy, and innovation is evident in his writing. He is well versed in how to simplify complex technical concepts and turn them into easy-to-understand content for our readers.

How to Convert CSV to QBO? A Detailed Guide