Preston Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Preston is £2,575.74 for 2026/27, up 4% (£97.89) on last year. That is £184.22 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 247th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (43%), so the average bill per home is about £2,142.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, North West · Official England government statistics
Preston council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,717.16 | £171.72 | £143.10 | £1,287.87 | 30,940 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,003.35 | £200.34 | £166.95 | £1,502.51 | 13,830 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,289.55 | £228.95 | £190.80 | £1,717.16 | 11,490 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,575.74 | £257.57 | £214.64 | £1,931.80 | 7,620 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,148.13 | £314.81 | £262.34 | £2,361.10 | 3,930 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,720.51 | £372.05 | £310.04 | £2,790.38 | 2,210 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,292.90 | £429.29 | £357.74 | £3,219.67 | 1,110 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,151.48 | £515.15 | £429.29 | £3,863.61 | 70 |
- Preston
- England average
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Where your Preston council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Preston but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,575.74 Band D charge, £375.34 (15%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £375.34 | 14.6% | £250.23 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,801.75 | 70.0% | £1,201.17 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £292.40 | 11.4% | £194.93 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £94.73 | 3.7% | £63.15 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £11.52 | 0.4% | £7.68 |
- District council £375 14.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,802 70.0%
- Police and crime commissioner £292 11.4%
- Fire and rescue authority £95 3.7%
- Parish/town council (average) £12 0.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Preston; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Preston council tax history
Band D in Preston has risen from £1,698.10 in 2016/17 to £2,575.74 in 2026/27 — 52% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.2%, the 251st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Preston Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,575.74 | +4.0% | £1,717.16 |
| 2025/26 | £2,477.85 | +4.8% | £1,651.90 |
| 2024/25 | £2,365.48 | +4.6% | £1,576.99 |
| 2023/24 | £2,262.11 | +4.2% | £1,508.07 |
| 2022/23 | £2,171.31 | +3.8% | £1,447.54 |
| 2021/22 | £2,091.49 | +3.9% | £1,394.33 |
| 2020/21 | £2,012.43 | +3.7% | £1,341.62 |
| 2019/20 | £1,940.67 | +4.8% | £1,293.78 |
| 2018/19 | £1,852.46 | +5.6% | £1,234.97 |
| 2017/18 | £1,754.56 | +3.3% | £1,169.71 |
| 2016/17 | £1,698.10 | – | £1,132.07 |
Homes by council tax band in Preston
Preston has 71,200 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 63% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,717.16 a year (£171.72 a month over 10 instalments).
Preston compared with North West
Preston is the 28th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£92.52 less than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Rossendale | £2,519.97 | +3.9% |
| Burnley | £2,549.42 | +3.8% |
| Bury | £2,555.15 | +5.8% |
| Preston | £2,575.74 | +4% |
| Sefton | £2,583.22 | +5% |
| Salford | £2,594.45 | +5.8% |
| Rochdale | £2,600.83 | +5.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Preston drops from £1,717.16 to £1,287.87.
- Council Tax Reduction: Preston runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits — rules differ from council to council in England.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower (Band A homes get a reduction of 1/9 of Band D).
Preston's 4% rise compares with an England average of 4.9%. Councils responsible for social care can raise their own share by up to 4.99% without a referendum, districts by under 3% or £5, and police and fire bodies by fixed cash amounts — so the area total can move by a different percentage.
Who raised what in Preston for 2026/27
Preston City Council says each part of the bill rose by a different amount from April 2026. Its own share rose 3%. Lancashire County Council’s rose 3.8%. Lancashire Combined Fire Authority’s rose 5.6%, and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s rose 5.4%. The city keeps 15p in every £1 it collects.
| Body | Band D (no parish) | Share | Rise |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancashire County Council | £1,801.75 | 70.27% | 3.8% |
| Preston City Council | £375.34 | 14.64% | 3% |
| Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire | £292.40 | 11.40% | 5.4% |
| Lancashire Combined Fire Authority | £94.73 | 3.69% | 5.6% |
| Total | £2,564.22 | 100% |
A 100% discount for terminally ill residents from April 2026
From 1 April 2026, Preston City Council gives a 100% council tax discount where the bill payer, their partner or a dependent child under 18 is terminally ill and lives in the home as their main residence. You need an SR1 form from a GP, consultant, hospice doctor or suitably qualified nurse. The form confirms the diagnosis and a life expectancy of under 12 months. The discount starts on 1 April 2026, or on the date the SR1 is signed if that is later. Other discounts are applied first, the discount is reviewed periodically, and the council says the policy is reviewed every year and can be changed or withdrawn. If an application is refused you can ask the council to review it and then appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England.
The discount normally continues for three months after the person dies, if other members of the household stay on and become liable for the bill. It does not apply in houses in multiple occupation. You apply online. If you give permission, the council can get the SR1 directly from the medical practitioner.
Empty homes and second homes in Preston
- Empty and unfurnished homes get 100% off for one month, starting from the date the home became empty, which may be before you bought it.
- Homes needing or undergoing major or structural repairs get 50% off for up to 12 months.
- The long-term empty premium has been 100% after one year since 1 April 2024. It rises to 200% after five years and 300% after ten. A Band A home empty for two years costs £3,434.32 in 2026/27, at the city’s average parish rate.
- Second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025. Preston also publishes guidelines on local exceptions to the premium, in addition to the national ones, and you can apply online. The council reviewed its empty homes charging policy on 25 January 2024, and your bill stays payable at the current rate while an exception request is considered.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Preston?
£2,575.74 a year in 2026/27, or £257.57 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Preston?
Band A: 30,940 of 71,200 homes (43%). A Band A bill is £1,717.16 in 2026/27.
How much has Preston council tax gone up?
4% this year, from £2,477.85 to £2,575.74 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 52%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Preston?
District council £375.34; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,801.75; Police and crime commissioner £292.40; Fire and rescue authority £94.73; Parish/town council (average) £11.52 (Band D, 2026/27).
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your postcode on GOV.UK “Check your Council Tax band”, run by the Valuation Office Agency. You can challenge your band if you think it is wrong.
Is there a council tax discount for terminal illness in Preston?
Yes. From 1 April 2026, a household where the bill payer, their partner or a dependent child is terminally ill, confirmed by an SR1 form, can get 100% off. It usually continues for three months after the person’s death.
How much did Preston council tax go up in 2026/27?
Preston City Council’s share rose 3%, Lancashire County Council’s 3.8%, the fire authority’s 5.6% and the police’s 5.4%. Band D, excluding parish precepts, is £2,564.22.
Is there a discount on empty homes in Preston?
An unfurnished empty home gets 100% off for one month. A home needing major repairs can get 50% off for up to 12 months. After a year, a premium is added.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2026-27, Tables 1 to 9 (ODS)
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Table 10 local authority level data
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2025-26 (revised), Table 10 Local Authority Level Data (ODS), used for England % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- MHCLG: Band D Council Tax figures 1993 onwards, Table 5 area Band D (live table, 2026-27 revised)
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Preston City Council – How your Council Tax is spent in 2026/27
- Preston City Council – Council Tax discount for the terminally ill
- Preston City Council – Empty properties
- Preston City Council – Council Tax discounts and reductions