Excel Formula to count past due dates

HI,
Any help!! I am trying to insert a furmula in Excel that will count the number of entries in a column that have a past due date from today (today being variable to the day that I open my worksheet).

=countif(A:A,<today())

I believe what you are asking for is any date in the list that has a due date that has past, if so, use the above. Otherwise, it might be helpful to include an example.

....although you need to amend the syntax a little, try

=COUNTIF(A:A,"<"&TODAY())