Ribble Valley Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Ribble Valley is £2,386.50 for 2026/27, up 3.8% (£86.92) on last year. That is £5.02 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 111th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (20%), so the average bill per home is about £2,432.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, North West · Official England government statistics
Ribble Valley council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,591.00 | £159.10 | £132.58 | £1,193.25 | 3,920 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,856.17 | £185.62 | £154.68 | £1,392.13 | 5,650 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,121.33 | £212.13 | £176.78 | £1,591.00 | 5,910 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,386.50 | £238.65 | £198.88 | £1,789.88 | 5,170 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,916.83 | £291.68 | £243.07 | £2,187.63 | 4,390 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,447.17 | £344.72 | £287.26 | £2,585.38 | 2,720 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,977.50 | £397.75 | £331.46 | £2,983.13 | 2,060 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,773.00 | £477.30 | £397.75 | £3,579.75 | 240 |
- Ribble Valley
- England average
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Where your Ribble Valley council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Ribble Valley but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,386.50 Band D charge, £170.69 (7%) 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 C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £170.69 | 7.2% | £151.72 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,801.75 | 75.5% | £1,601.56 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £292.40 | 12.3% | £259.91 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £94.73 | 4.0% | £84.20 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £26.93 | 1.1% | £23.94 |
- District council £171 7.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,802 75.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £292 12.3%
- Fire and rescue authority £95 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £27 1.1%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Ribble Valley; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Ribble Valley council tax history
Band D in Ribble Valley has risen from £1,565.38 in 2016/17 to £2,386.50 in 2026/27 — 52% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.6%, the 226th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Ribble Valley Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,386.50 | +3.8% | £2,121.33 |
| 2025/26 | £2,299.58 | +4.7% | £2,044.07 |
| 2024/25 | £2,196.90 | +4.8% | £1,952.80 |
| 2023/24 | £2,097.22 | +4.4% | £1,864.20 |
| 2022/23 | £2,009.77 | +4.0% | £1,786.46 |
| 2021/22 | £1,931.58 | +3.9% | £1,716.96 |
| 2020/21 | £1,859.81 | +4.0% | £1,653.16 |
| 2019/20 | £1,787.63 | +4.6% | £1,589.00 |
| 2018/19 | £1,709.52 | +5.8% | £1,519.57 |
| 2017/18 | £1,616.41 | +3.3% | £1,436.81 |
| 2016/17 | £1,565.38 | – | £1,391.45 |
Homes by council tax band in Ribble Valley
Ribble Valley has 30,060 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 32% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,121.33 a year (£212.13 a month over 10 instalments).
Ribble Valley compared with North West
Ribble Valley is the 5th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£96.72 more than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Trafford | £2,291.70 | +8% |
| Manchester | £2,312.04 | +5.9% |
| Halton | £2,366.61 | +5.2% |
| Ribble Valley | £2,386.50 | +3.8% |
| Bolton | £2,399.74 | +5.9% |
| St Helens | £2,403.38 | +5% |
| Chorley | £2,430.23 | +3.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Ribble Valley drops from £2,121.33 to £1,591.00.
- Council Tax Reduction: Ribble Valley 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).
Ribble Valley's 3.8% 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.
Ribble Valley still discounts empty homes and second homes
Ribble Valley's approach to empty and second homes is the reverse of most English councils. Its 2026/27 council tax leaflet still gives a 100% discount for the first six months a home is empty and unfurnished, or up to 12 months if it needs major repairs. The six months does not restart if the home changes hands after it has run out. Furnished homes that are nobody’s main residence get 10% off rather than paying a premium. The leaflet does not mention any long-term empty or second homes premium.
So a Band E second home in Ribble Valley costs £2,625.15 in 2026/27, at the average parish rate. In a council that charges the 100% premium allowed since April 2025, the same home would cost twice the full charge. If your job requires you to live elsewhere, the discount on your empty furnished home rises to 50%. Annexes lived in by a relative of the household in the main home, or used as part of the main home, get 50% off.
A small borough share and its parishes
Ribble Valley Borough Council’s own Band D charge is just £170.69, about 7% of the average bill. Lancashire County Council takes about 75%. The borough expects to spend £33.7 million in 2026/27 and to raise £5.1 million from council tax, including £696,000 for parish precepts. This year's budget also sets aside £488,000 for local government reorganisation costs. Band D varies by parish, for example:
| Parish | Band B | Band D |
|---|---|---|
| Billington & Langho | £1,846.50 | £2,374.07 |
| Clitheroe | £1,854.06 | £2,383.79 |
| Read | £1,854.80 | £2,384.74 |
| Longridge | £1,860.33 | £2,391.85 |
| Whalley | £1,870.60 | £2,405.06 |
Council Tax Support and paying
Ribble Valley’s working-age Council Tax Support follows the old Council Tax Benefit rules. From 1 April 2022 it removed the 12% cut it used to make for working-age claimants, so the lowest-income households can again get up to 100% off. Some limits remain. Claims can only be backdated by one month, there is no family premium for new claims, and extra amounts for children are limited to two. The council also offers Alternative Maximum Council Tax Support (second adult rebate), which is worked out on the income of another adult living with you rather than your own.
Monthly Direct Debits are usually taken on the last day of the month. You have to set them up on a paper form, as the council does not take them online or by phone. To pay over 12 instalments instead of 10, your request had to reach the council by 16 April 2026 for the 2026/27 year.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Ribble Valley?
£2,386.50 a year in 2026/27, or £238.65 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Ribble Valley?
Band C: 5,910 of 30,060 homes (20%). A Band C bill is £2,121.33 in 2026/27.
How much has Ribble Valley council tax gone up?
3.8% this year, from £2,299.58 to £2,386.50 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 52%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Ribble Valley?
District council £170.69; 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) £26.93 (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.
Does Ribble Valley charge a second homes premium?
No. Its 2026/27 leaflet gives furnished homes with no main resident a 10% discount, and no premium is mentioned.
Is there a discount on empty homes in Ribble Valley?
Yes. An unoccupied, unfurnished home gets 100% off for the first six months, or up to 12 months if it needs major repairs. After that the full charge applies.
Do working-age claimants get full council tax support in Ribble Valley?
They can. The 12% reduction for working-age claimants was removed from 1 April 2022, so support can again cover the whole bill.
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)
- Ribble Valley BC – Council tax leaflet 2026-2027 (PDF)
- Ribble Valley BC – Council tax charges by parish 2026-2027 (PDF)
- Ribble Valley BC – Council tax information 2026-2027 (PDF)
- Ribble Valley BC – Council Tax discounts
- Ribble Valley BC – Council Tax Support
- Ribble Valley BC – How to pay council tax