"ChristyB" wrote:
> The actuals are real $. The amount budgeted was $0.00.
> I need the percentage over. What formula can I use to get
> the % over budget in Excel?

As you probably, mathematically there is no answer. But that
does not stop people from wanting a "reasonable" result to
put into presentations.

The choice is arbitrary and subjective. There is no right or
wrong. Do you want a blank? Do you want a constant, like
100%? Or do you want a percentage that scales by the
amount commensurate with the size of the budget or
"typical" budget item? (Most people prefer a blank or a
number, not words like "not applicable" or "NA".)

Some formulations of each:

=if(B1<=0, "", A1/B1 - 1)
=if(B1<=0, 100%, A1/B1 - 1)
=if(B1<=0, A1, A1/B1 - 1)
=if(B1<=0, round(A1/1000,0), A1/B1 - 1)

The latter is a multiple of 100% times the rounded number
of $1000 increments. Thus, 100% if A1 is $500-$1499
and 200% if A1 is $1500-$2499.

Note: Using "<=" is called "defensive programming". You
might prefer "B1=0", especially if you know the budget
value is never less than zero ;-).