Import CSV into Quicken 2015-2016 with categories

IMPORTANT: This is an outdated tutorial, but still relevant if you are still using Quicken 2015 or Quicken 2016 before it was switched to a new Quicken ID. Updated Quicken 2015 and 2016 have the issue fixed the same way as Quicken 2017 with one exception:

• For Quicken 2015-2016 for Windows with the latest 2019 update, make sure to disconnect Quicken account from online services. This is important to have Quicken 2015-2016 import QIF files the same way Quicken 2017 works. Your Quicken no longer import transactions from your bank, so the "online services" connection is useless anyway.

• Edit Quicken account and click Online Services and click Deactivate and save the changes.

• Proceed to the tutorial(s) for Quicken 2017.

The video is at the bottom of the post.

Quicken 2015 (pre Quicken ID releases) changed the QIF import process into non-cash accounts (Quicken 2016 did the same and Quicken 2017 finally fixed it). Before Quicken 2015, Quicken 2014 and earlier versions imported "correctly" prepared QIF files even if Quicken "stopped" officially importing QIF files for non-cash accounts since Quicken 2005.

When you import a "correct" QIF file into Quicken 2015, 2016 (with the account header part) that imports fine into Quicken 2017, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, you will see a message that transactions are imported, but you will not see the transactions when you open the account. There is a trick to see those transactions and get them into the register, but it is much more time consuming than a simple way to convert and import CSV into Quicken 2015 with categories shown below.

(Note: As another option, you can switch from QIF to QFX, but you won't be able to import categories as QFX format does not support them.)

Three easy steps to Import CSV into Quicken 2015

• Use the latest CSV2QIF to create expected QIF

• Create an IMPORT cash account in Quicken as a place to import

• Move transactions under bank or credit card account

Get the latest CSV2QIF

• Make sure you are using the latest version of CSV2QIF. Download it from the CSV2QIF download page. IMPORTANT: CSV2QIF is now replaced with the Transactions app, which converts from more formats and converts to more formats.

• Start CSV2QIF and load a CSV/Excel/TXT file. Select the QIF target as "Quicken 2015".

• Click the 'Convert' button to create a QIF file.

Create an IMPORT cash account in Quicken

Many of our users use "buffer" or "import" account approach to import transactions:

• Import transactions into a "buffer" or "import" account to review imported transactions in isolated a place.

• Select all transactions and cut and paste them under other "final" account

For Quicken 2015, you must create a CASH IMPORT account, since the cash type is an only account type that will import QIF files.

Do it in three easy steps.

Call the account "IMPORT" or something else standing out for as a special account for imports. 

Enter the account balance (the screenshot below shows just click "next", but as I'm writing this I realized that BY ENTERING ACCOUNT BALANCE, YOU WILL NOT HAVE EXTRA BALANCE TRANSACTION CREATED that you see below on screenshots). 

Now you have an IMPORT account created. 

Import the QIF file into the IMPORT account

Select File, then Import, then, QIF file under the main menu.

IMPORTANT: Select the "IMPORT" account. The MAIN difference from the guide for Quicken 2014 or earlier is to select "All accounts" from the drop-down list. In this case, the account NAME is entered in CSV2QIF. For Quicken 2015, you must select the "IMPORT" account, not "All accounts". 

Once the QIF file is imported, go to the IMPORT account register. 

Review and move transactions to bank or credit card account

Select the transactions there. You may spend little time reviewing transactions, amounts, payees, descriptions, categories. If you see the amounts are reversed (deposits and withdrawals), go back to CSV2QIF and click "Change +/-" and create a new QIF file. In this case, delete already imported transactions and import a new QIF file. The buffer account approach also proves to be effective as you can import several times without messing with your main account register.

Now click the first transaction once, and press the Shift key and click the last transaction to select all transactions. Then right-click on any select transaction and select "Move Transactions" (not "Cut transactions", but "Move Transactions").

The final step is to select an account to move transactions into (your checking or credit card account). 

All done!

Now switch to checking or credit account used above and review imported transactions with the categories there.

How about Quicken 2015-2019 for Mac?

Another painful topic is how to import a CSV/Excel/TXT file into Quicken 2015 for Mac as the Mac version of Quicken does not support QIF import at all. There is a way as well:

• Quicken for Mac 2015 imports "CSV Mint" files that carry the category

• Your CSV file layout may not match expected CSV Mint layout, you have Excel or TXT file

• use CSV2CSV to make your CSV/Excel/TXT file a "CSV Mint" file