diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils.hs
index 43155fca6..9f4a0f349 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils.hs
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 {-|
 Utilities used throughout hledger, or needed low in the module hierarchy.
-This is the bottom of hledger's module graph.
+These are the bottom of hledger's module graph.
 -}
 
-{-# LANGUAGE LambdaCase #-}
-
 module Hledger.Utils (
 
   -- * Currying
@@ -15,30 +13,9 @@ module Hledger.Utils (
   curry4,
   uncurry4,
 
-  -- * Console
-  color,
-  bgColor,
-  colorB,
-  bgColorB,
-
-  -- * IO
-  error',
-  usageError,
-  embedFileRelative,
-  expandHomePath,
-  expandPath,
-  readFileOrStdinPortably,
-  readFilePortably,
-  readHandlePortably,
-  -- hereFileRelative,
-
   -- * Lists
   splitAtElement,
 
-  -- * Time
-  getCurrentLocalTime,
-  getCurrentZonedTime,
-
   -- * Trees
   treeLeaves,
 
@@ -65,14 +42,19 @@ module Hledger.Utils (
   -- * Misc
   applyN,
   mapM',
-  numDigitsInt,
   maximum',
   maximumStrict,
   minimumStrict,
+  numDigitsInt,
   sequence',
   sumStrict,
+
   makeHledgerClassyLenses,
 
+  -- * Tests
+  tests_Utils,
+  module Hledger.Utils.Test,
+
   -- * Other
   module Hledger.Utils.Debug,
   module Hledger.Utils.Parse,
@@ -81,34 +63,16 @@ module Hledger.Utils (
   module Hledger.Utils.String,
   module Hledger.Utils.Text,
 
-  -- * Tests
-  tests_Utils,
-  module Hledger.Utils.Test,
 )
 where
 
-import Control.Monad (when)
 import Data.Char (toLower)
-import Data.FileEmbed (makeRelativeToProject, embedStringFile)
 import Data.List.Extra (foldl', foldl1', uncons, unsnoc)
 import qualified Data.Set as Set
-import Data.Text (Text)
-import qualified Data.Text.IO as T
-import qualified Data.Text.Lazy.Builder as TB
-import Data.Time.Clock (getCurrentTime)
-import Data.Time.LocalTime (LocalTime, ZonedTime, getCurrentTimeZone,
-                            utcToLocalTime, utcToZonedTime)
 import Data.Tree (foldTree, Tree (Node, subForest))
 import Language.Haskell.TH (DecsQ, Name, mkName, nameBase)
-import Language.Haskell.TH.Syntax (Q, Exp)
 import Lens.Micro ((&), (.~))
 import Lens.Micro.TH (DefName(TopName), lensClass, lensField, makeLensesWith, classyRules)
-import System.Console.ANSI (Color,ColorIntensity,ConsoleLayer(..), SGR(..), setSGRCode)
-import System.Directory (getHomeDirectory)
-import System.FilePath (isRelative, (</>))
-import System.IO
-  (Handle, IOMode (..), hGetEncoding, hSetEncoding, hSetNewlineMode,
-   openFile, stdin, universalNewlineMode, utf8_bom)
 
 import Hledger.Utils.Debug
 import Hledger.Utils.Parse
@@ -139,87 +103,6 @@ curry4 f w x y z = f (w, x, y, z)
 uncurry4 :: (a -> b -> c -> d -> e) -> (a, b, c, d) -> e
 uncurry4 f (w, x, y, z) = f w x y z
 
--- Console
-
--- | Wrap a string in ANSI codes to set and reset foreground colour.
-color :: ColorIntensity -> Color -> String -> String
-color int col s = setSGRCode [SetColor Foreground int col] ++ s ++ setSGRCode []
-
--- | Wrap a string in ANSI codes to set and reset background colour.
-bgColor :: ColorIntensity -> Color -> String -> String
-bgColor int col s = setSGRCode [SetColor Background int col] ++ s ++ setSGRCode []
-
--- | Wrap a WideBuilder in ANSI codes to set and reset foreground colour.
-colorB :: ColorIntensity -> Color -> WideBuilder -> WideBuilder
-colorB int col (WideBuilder s w) =
-    WideBuilder (TB.fromString (setSGRCode [SetColor Foreground int col]) <> s <> TB.fromString (setSGRCode [])) w
-
--- | Wrap a WideBuilder in ANSI codes to set and reset background colour.
-bgColorB :: ColorIntensity -> Color -> WideBuilder -> WideBuilder
-bgColorB int col (WideBuilder s w) =
-    WideBuilder (TB.fromString (setSGRCode [SetColor Background int col]) <> s <> TB.fromString (setSGRCode [])) w
-
--- IO
-
--- | Convert a possibly relative, possibly tilde-containing file path to an absolute one,
--- given the current directory. ~username is not supported. Leave "-" unchanged.
--- Can raise an error.
-expandPath :: FilePath -> FilePath -> IO FilePath -- general type sig for use in reader parsers
-expandPath _ "-" = return "-"
-expandPath curdir p = (if isRelative p then (curdir </>) else id) <$> expandHomePath p
--- PARTIAL:
-
--- | Expand user home path indicated by tilde prefix
-expandHomePath :: FilePath -> IO FilePath
-expandHomePath = \case
-    ('~':'/':p)  -> (</> p) <$> getHomeDirectory
-    ('~':'\\':p) -> (</> p) <$> getHomeDirectory
-    ('~':_)      -> ioError $ userError "~USERNAME in paths is not supported"
-    p            -> return p
-
--- | Read text from a file,
--- converting any \r\n line endings to \n,,
--- using the system locale's text encoding,
--- ignoring any utf8 BOM prefix (as seen in paypal's 2018 CSV, eg) if that encoding is utf8.
-readFilePortably :: FilePath -> IO Text
-readFilePortably f =  openFile f ReadMode >>= readHandlePortably
-
--- | Like readFilePortably, but read from standard input if the path is "-".
-readFileOrStdinPortably :: String -> IO Text
-readFileOrStdinPortably f = openFileOrStdin f ReadMode >>= readHandlePortably
-  where
-    openFileOrStdin :: String -> IOMode -> IO Handle
-    openFileOrStdin "-" _ = return stdin
-    openFileOrStdin f' m   = openFile f' m
-
-readHandlePortably :: Handle -> IO Text
-readHandlePortably h = do
-  hSetNewlineMode h universalNewlineMode
-  menc <- hGetEncoding h
-  when (fmap show menc == Just "UTF-8") $  -- XXX no Eq instance, rely on Show
-    hSetEncoding h utf8_bom
-  T.hGetContents h
-
--- | Simpler alias for errorWithoutStackTrace
-error' :: String -> a
-error' = errorWithoutStackTrace . ("Error: " <>)
-
--- | A version of errorWithoutStackTrace that adds a usage hint.
-usageError :: String -> a
-usageError = error' . (++ " (use -h to see usage)")
-
--- | Like embedFile, but takes a path relative to the package directory.
--- Similar to embedFileRelative ?
-embedFileRelative :: FilePath -> Q Exp
-embedFileRelative f = makeRelativeToProject f >>= embedStringFile
-
--- -- | Like hereFile, but takes a path relative to the package directory.
--- -- Similar to embedFileRelative ?
--- hereFileRelative :: FilePath -> Q Exp
--- hereFileRelative f = makeRelativeToProject f >>= hereFileExp
---   where
---     QuasiQuoter{quoteExp=hereFileExp} = hereFile
-
 -- Lists
 
 splitAtElement :: Eq a => a -> [a] -> [[a]]
@@ -232,20 +115,6 @@ splitAtElement x l =
     split es = let (first,rest) = break (x==) es
                in first : splitAtElement x rest
 
--- Time
-
-getCurrentLocalTime :: IO LocalTime
-getCurrentLocalTime = do
-  t <- getCurrentTime
-  tz <- getCurrentTimeZone
-  return $ utcToLocalTime tz t
-
-getCurrentZonedTime :: IO ZonedTime
-getCurrentZonedTime = do
-  t <- getCurrentTime
-  tz <- getCurrentTimeZone
-  return $ utcToZonedTime tz t
-
 -- Trees
 
 -- | Get the leaves of this tree as a list. 
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
index c3d5820c4..49527aa3a 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/IO.hs
@@ -9,33 +9,78 @@ The colour scheme may be somewhat hard-coded.
 
 -}
 
+{-# LANGUAGE LambdaCase #-}
+
 module Hledger.Utils.IO (
-  -- * Pretty showing as a string
-   pshow
-  ,pshow'
-  -- * Pretty printing to stdout
-  ,pprint
-  ,pprint'
+
+  -- * Pretty showing/printing
+  pshow,
+  pshow',
+  pprint,
+  pprint',
+
   -- * Command line arguments
-  ,progArgs
-  -- * Detecting --color/--colour/NO_COLOR
-  ,colorOption
-  ,useColorOnStdout
-  ,useColorOnStderr
-  -- * Detecting -o/--output-file
-  ,outputFileOption
-  ,hasOutputFile
+  progArgs,
+  outputFileOption,
+  hasOutputFile,
+
+  -- * ANSI color
+  colorOption,
+  useColorOnStdout,
+  useColorOnStderr,
+  color,
+  bgColor,
+  colorB,
+  bgColorB,  
+
+  -- * Errors
+  error',
+  usageError,
+
+  -- * Files
+  embedFileRelative,
+  expandHomePath,
+  expandPath,
+  readFileOrStdinPortably,
+  readFilePortably,
+  readHandlePortably,
+  -- hereFileRelative,
+
+  -- * Time
+  getCurrentLocalTime,
+  getCurrentZonedTime,
+
   )
 where
 
+import           Control.Monad (when)
+import           Data.FileEmbed (makeRelativeToProject, embedStringFile)
 import           Data.List hiding (uncons)
 import           Data.Maybe (isJust)
+import           Data.Text (Text)
+import qualified Data.Text.IO as T
 import qualified Data.Text.Lazy as TL
-import           System.Console.ANSI (hSupportsANSIColor)
+import qualified Data.Text.Lazy.Builder as TB
+import           Data.Time.Clock (getCurrentTime)
+import           Data.Time.LocalTime
+  (LocalTime, ZonedTime, getCurrentTimeZone, utcToLocalTime, utcToZonedTime)
+import           Language.Haskell.TH.Syntax (Q, Exp)
+import           System.Console.ANSI
+  (Color,ColorIntensity,ConsoleLayer(..), SGR(..), hSupportsANSIColor, setSGRCode)
+import           System.Directory (getHomeDirectory)
 import           System.Environment (getArgs, lookupEnv)
-import           System.IO (stdout, Handle, stderr)
+import           System.FilePath (isRelative, (</>))
+import           System.IO
+  (Handle, IOMode (..), hGetEncoding, hSetEncoding, hSetNewlineMode,
+   openFile, stdin, stdout, stderr, universalNewlineMode, utf8_bom)
 import           System.IO.Unsafe (unsafePerformIO)
-import           Text.Pretty.Simple  -- (defaultOutputOptionsDarkBg, OutputOptions(..), pShowOpt, pPrintOpt)
+import           Text.Pretty.Simple
+  (CheckColorTty(CheckColorTty), OutputOptions(..), 
+  defaultOutputOptionsDarkBg, defaultOutputOptionsNoColor, pShowOpt, pPrintOpt)
+
+import Hledger.Utils.Text (WideBuilder(WideBuilder))
+
+-- Pretty showing/printing with pretty-simple
 
 -- | pretty-simple options with colour enabled if allowed.
 prettyopts = 
@@ -67,7 +112,9 @@ pprint = pPrintOpt CheckColorTty prettyopts
 pprint' :: Show a => a -> IO ()
 pprint' = pPrintOpt CheckColorTty prettyopts'
 
--- Avoid using pshow, pprint, dbg* in the code below to prevent infinite loops.
+-- "Avoid using pshow, pprint, dbg* in the code below to prevent infinite loops." (?)
+
+-- Command line arguments
 
 -- | The command line arguments that were used at program startup.
 -- Uses unsafePerformIO.
@@ -75,6 +122,34 @@ pprint' = pPrintOpt CheckColorTty prettyopts'
 progArgs :: [String]
 progArgs = unsafePerformIO getArgs
 
+-- | Read the value of the -o/--output-file command line option provided at program startup,
+-- if any, using unsafePerformIO.
+outputFileOption :: Maybe String
+outputFileOption = 
+  -- keep synced with output-file flag definition in hledger:CliOptions.
+  let args = progArgs in
+  case dropWhile (not . ("-o" `isPrefixOf`)) args of
+    -- -oARG
+    ('-':'o':v@(_:_)):_ -> Just v
+    -- -o ARG
+    "-o":v:_ -> Just v
+    _ ->
+      case dropWhile (/="--output-file") args of
+        -- --output-file ARG
+        "--output-file":v:_ -> Just v
+        _ ->
+          case take 1 $ filter ("--output-file=" `isPrefixOf`) args of
+            -- --output=file=ARG
+            ['-':'-':'o':'u':'t':'p':'u':'t':'-':'f':'i':'l':'e':'=':v] -> Just v
+            _ -> Nothing
+
+-- | Check whether the -o/--output-file option has been used at program startup
+-- with an argument other than "-", using unsafePerformIO.
+hasOutputFile :: Bool
+hasOutputFile = outputFileOption `notElem` [Nothing, Just "-"]
+
+-- ANSI colour
+
 -- | Read the value of the --color or --colour command line option provided at program startup
 -- using unsafePerformIO. If this option was not provided, returns the empty string.
 colorOption :: String
@@ -126,29 +201,98 @@ useColorOnHandle h = unsafePerformIO $ do
   return $ coloroption `elem` ["always","yes"]
        || (coloroption `notElem` ["never","no"] && not no_color && supports_color)
 
--- | Read the value of the -o/--output-file command line option provided at program startup,
--- if any, using unsafePerformIO.
-outputFileOption :: Maybe String
-outputFileOption = 
-  -- keep synced with output-file flag definition in hledger:CliOptions.
-  let args = progArgs in
-  case dropWhile (not . ("-o" `isPrefixOf`)) args of
-    -- -oARG
-    ('-':'o':v@(_:_)):_ -> Just v
-    -- -o ARG
-    "-o":v:_ -> Just v
-    _ ->
-      case dropWhile (/="--output-file") args of
-        -- --output-file ARG
-        "--output-file":v:_ -> Just v
-        _ ->
-          case take 1 $ filter ("--output-file=" `isPrefixOf`) args of
-            -- --output=file=ARG
-            ['-':'-':'o':'u':'t':'p':'u':'t':'-':'f':'i':'l':'e':'=':v] -> Just v
-            _ -> Nothing
+-- | Wrap a string in ANSI codes to set and reset foreground colour.
+color :: ColorIntensity -> Color -> String -> String
+color int col s = setSGRCode [SetColor Foreground int col] ++ s ++ setSGRCode []
 
--- | Check whether the -o/--output-file option has been used at program startup
--- with an argument other than "-", using unsafePerformIO.
-hasOutputFile :: Bool
-hasOutputFile = outputFileOption `notElem` [Nothing, Just "-"]
+-- | Wrap a string in ANSI codes to set and reset background colour.
+bgColor :: ColorIntensity -> Color -> String -> String
+bgColor int col s = setSGRCode [SetColor Background int col] ++ s ++ setSGRCode []
+
+-- | Wrap a WideBuilder in ANSI codes to set and reset foreground colour.
+colorB :: ColorIntensity -> Color -> WideBuilder -> WideBuilder
+colorB int col (WideBuilder s w) =
+    WideBuilder (TB.fromString (setSGRCode [SetColor Foreground int col]) <> s <> TB.fromString (setSGRCode [])) w
+
+-- | Wrap a WideBuilder in ANSI codes to set and reset background colour.
+bgColorB :: ColorIntensity -> Color -> WideBuilder -> WideBuilder
+bgColorB int col (WideBuilder s w) =
+    WideBuilder (TB.fromString (setSGRCode [SetColor Background int col]) <> s <> TB.fromString (setSGRCode [])) w
+
+-- Errors
+
+-- | Simpler alias for errorWithoutStackTrace
+error' :: String -> a
+error' = errorWithoutStackTrace . ("Error: " <>)
+
+-- | A version of errorWithoutStackTrace that adds a usage hint.
+usageError :: String -> a
+usageError = error' . (++ " (use -h to see usage)")
+
+-- Files
+
+-- | Convert a possibly relative, possibly tilde-containing file path to an absolute one,
+-- given the current directory. ~username is not supported. Leave "-" unchanged.
+-- Can raise an error.
+expandPath :: FilePath -> FilePath -> IO FilePath -- general type sig for use in reader parsers
+expandPath _ "-" = return "-"
+expandPath curdir p = (if isRelative p then (curdir </>) else id) <$> expandHomePath p
+-- PARTIAL:
+
+-- | Expand user home path indicated by tilde prefix
+expandHomePath :: FilePath -> IO FilePath
+expandHomePath = \case
+    ('~':'/':p)  -> (</> p) <$> getHomeDirectory
+    ('~':'\\':p) -> (</> p) <$> getHomeDirectory
+    ('~':_)      -> ioError $ userError "~USERNAME in paths is not supported"
+    p            -> return p
+
+-- | Read text from a file,
+-- converting any \r\n line endings to \n,,
+-- using the system locale's text encoding,
+-- ignoring any utf8 BOM prefix (as seen in paypal's 2018 CSV, eg) if that encoding is utf8.
+readFilePortably :: FilePath -> IO Text
+readFilePortably f =  openFile f ReadMode >>= readHandlePortably
+
+-- | Like readFilePortably, but read from standard input if the path is "-".
+readFileOrStdinPortably :: String -> IO Text
+readFileOrStdinPortably f = openFileOrStdin f ReadMode >>= readHandlePortably
+  where
+    openFileOrStdin :: String -> IOMode -> IO Handle
+    openFileOrStdin "-" _ = return stdin
+    openFileOrStdin f' m   = openFile f' m
+
+readHandlePortably :: Handle -> IO Text
+readHandlePortably h = do
+  hSetNewlineMode h universalNewlineMode
+  menc <- hGetEncoding h
+  when (fmap show menc == Just "UTF-8") $  -- XXX no Eq instance, rely on Show
+    hSetEncoding h utf8_bom
+  T.hGetContents h
+
+-- | Like embedFile, but takes a path relative to the package directory.
+-- Similar to embedFileRelative ?
+embedFileRelative :: FilePath -> Q Exp
+embedFileRelative f = makeRelativeToProject f >>= embedStringFile
+
+-- -- | Like hereFile, but takes a path relative to the package directory.
+-- -- Similar to embedFileRelative ?
+-- hereFileRelative :: FilePath -> Q Exp
+-- hereFileRelative f = makeRelativeToProject f >>= hereFileExp
+--   where
+--     QuasiQuoter{quoteExp=hereFileExp} = hereFile
+
+-- Time
+
+getCurrentLocalTime :: IO LocalTime
+getCurrentLocalTime = do
+  t <- getCurrentTime
+  tz <- getCurrentTimeZone
+  return $ utcToLocalTime tz t
+
+getCurrentZonedTime :: IO ZonedTime
+getCurrentZonedTime = do
+  t <- getCurrentTime
+  tz <- getCurrentTimeZone
+  return $ utcToZonedTime tz t