Accounting File Format Specifications
Engineering reference for Intuit Interchange Format (.IIF), Open Financial Exchange (.OFX / .QBO), Quicken Interchange (.QIF), and SWIFT MT940 standards.
1. QuickBooks Web Connect (.QBO) & OFX 1.02 SGML
QuickBooks Web Connect (.QBO) is based on the 1997 OFX 1.02 SGML specification. Key implementation requirements:
- CRLF Line Endings: All lines must terminate in
\r\n. Unix\ncauses import errors on QuickBooks Desktop. - Header Blank Line: A mandatory blank line (
\r\n\r\n) must separate the OFXHEADER metadata block from the opening<OFX>tag. - Unclosed SGML Value Tags: Value tags like
<TRNAMT>-45.99do not have closing tags. Closing tags (e.g.,</TRNAMT>) are only used in OFX 2.x XML. - Payee Field Capping:
<NAME>is strictly limited to 32 characters. Any payee text beyond 32 characters triggers Error OL-222 unless moved to<MEMO>. - Mandatory Ledger Balance: The
<LEDGERBAL><BALAMT>0.00<DTASOF>...block is required inside statement responses.
2. QuickBooks Desktop Interchange Format (.IIF)
QuickBooks Desktop (.IIF) uses a tab-delimited double-entry ledger structure:
- Tab Delimiters: Fields must be delimited with literal tab characters (
\t). - Double-Entry Balance: Every transaction starts with a
TRNSline posting to the main bank/credit card account, followed by one or moreSPLlines posting equal and opposite amounts to offset accounts, terminated withENDTRNS. - Mathematical Balance: The sum of
TRNS.AMOUNT + SPL.AMOUNTmust equal0.00. - Perpetual Compatibility: Supported across all versions of QuickBooks Desktop (Pro, Premier, Enterprise) without requiring an Intuit Web Connect subscription.
3. Quicken Interchange Format (.QIF)
Legacy format developed by Intuit for Quicken exports. Line codes:
!Type:Bankor!Type:CCardstarts the register definition.D: Date (MM/DD/YYYY).T: Amount signed (+ for deposit, - for charge).P: Payee or Description.M: Memo details.N: Check number or document reference.^: Standalone record terminator closing the transaction block.
Full format & repair matrix
60+ high-intent financial converters, diagnostics, and institutional bank presets.
Core accounting file converters
CSV to QBO
Turn any bank or credit card CSV download into an official QuickBooks Web Connect (.QBO) file with valid OFX 1.02 SGML headers.
QBO to CSV
Extract transactions from archaic SGML .QBO files into clean CSV format ready for Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or Apple Numbers.
CSV to IIF
Create mathematically balanced .IIF files for QuickBooks Desktop with proper TRNS, SPL, and ENDTRNS double-entry blocks.
QBO to IIF
Import transactions from bank .QBO downloads directly into discontinued or older QuickBooks Desktop editions using balanced .IIF syntax.
OFX to IIF
Transform Open Financial Exchange (.OFX) and Quicken (.QFX) downloads into balanced double-entry QuickBooks Desktop IIF files.
OFX to CSV
Extract financial transactions from bank OFX downloads into clean, organized CSV rows.
CSV to OFX
Generate standardized OFX files from any bank, credit card, or payment processor CSV export.
QFX to CSV
Parse Quicken .QFX statement downloads into clean Excel and Google Sheets spreadsheets.
CSV to QFX
Create Quicken-compatible .QFX Web Connect files from any bank statement CSV.
QFX to QBO
Quickly patch and convert Quicken statement files so QuickBooks recognizes and imports them into bank feeds.
OFX to QBO
Transform standard Open Financial Exchange (.OFX) files into QuickBooks Web Connect (.QBO) files.
CSV to QIF
Generate classic Quicken Interchange Format (.QIF) files from any bank or credit card CSV export.
QIF to CSV
Extract historical financial records from legacy QIF files into modern spreadsheet tables.
QIF to QBO
Upgrade legacy Quicken .QIF statements into modern QuickBooks Web Connect (.QBO) files.
QIF to IIF
Transform Quicken QIF files into double-entry balanced IIF files for QuickBooks Desktop Pro, Premier, and Enterprise.
IIF to CSV
Parse complex QuickBooks IIF ledger files into readable spreadsheet rows.
MT940 to CSV
Parse international SWIFT MT940 bank statements into standard CSV format.
MT940 to QBO
Import international SWIFT MT940 corporate statements into QuickBooks Online and Desktop.
CAMT.053 to CSV
Extract transactions from modern ISO 20022 CAMT.053 XML bank statement files into clean CSV tables.
QuickBooks CSV Formatter
Format messy bank CSV downloads into the exact 3-column (Date, Description, Amount) or 4-column (Date, Description, Credit, Debit) layout required by QuickBooks Online.
Xero CSV Formatter
Transform any bank download into Xero-compliant 5-column CSV format ready for immediate import.
QuickBooks error & diagnostic utilities
Fix OL-222 Error
Repair corrupt .QBO files that trigger QuickBooks Error OL-222 with automated character sanitization and field capping.
Fix OL-301 / OL-393
Repair .QBO files rejected by QuickBooks due to expired, unrecognized, or discontinued financial institution identifiers.
Merge QBO, OFX, CSV
Combine multiple monthly statements into a single unified file sorted chronologically, with duplicate transactions automatically removed.
Credit Card CSV Flipper
Instantly flip debit and credit signs on credit card statements so charges import as expenses rather than deposits.