South Ribble Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in South Ribble is £2,442.66 for 2026/27, up 3.8% (£90.54) on last year. That is £51.14 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 150th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (26%), so the average bill per home is about £2,184.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, North West · Official England government statistics
South Ribble council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,628.44 | £162.84 | £135.70 | £1,221.33 | 10,140 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,899.85 | £189.98 | £158.32 | £1,424.89 | 13,680 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,171.25 | £217.13 | £180.94 | £1,628.44 | 13,320 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,442.66 | £244.27 | £203.55 | £1,832.00 | 8,750 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,985.47 | £298.55 | £248.79 | £2,239.11 | 4,650 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,528.29 | £352.83 | £294.02 | £2,646.21 | 1,790 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,071.10 | £407.11 | £339.26 | £3,053.33 | 630 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,885.32 | £488.53 | £407.11 | £3,663.99 | 30 |
- South Ribble
- England average
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Where your South Ribble council tax goes
Your bill is collected by South Ribble but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,442.66 Band D charge, £241.28 (10%) 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 B |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £241.28 | 9.9% | £187.66 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,801.75 | 73.8% | £1,401.36 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £292.40 | 12.0% | £227.42 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £94.73 | 3.9% | £73.68 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £12.50 | 0.5% | £9.72 |
- District council £241 9.9%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,802 73.8%
- Police and crime commissioner £292 12.0%
- Fire and rescue authority £95 3.9%
- Parish/town council (average) £13 0.5%
The parish or community council figure is an average across South Ribble; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
South Ribble council tax history
Band D in South Ribble has risen from £1,620.16 in 2016/17 to £2,442.66 in 2026/27 — 51% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.7%, the 275th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- South Ribble Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,442.66 | +3.8% | £1,899.85 |
| 2025/26 | £2,352.12 | +4.9% | £1,829.43 |
| 2024/25 | £2,242.03 | +4.7% | £1,743.80 |
| 2023/24 | £2,142.31 | +3.8% | £1,666.24 |
| 2022/23 | £2,064.06 | +3.7% | £1,605.38 |
| 2021/22 | £1,991.34 | +3.8% | £1,548.82 |
| 2020/21 | £1,917.85 | +3.8% | £1,491.66 |
| 2019/20 | £1,847.50 | +4.7% | £1,436.94 |
| 2018/19 | £1,764.71 | +5.5% | £1,372.55 |
| 2017/18 | £1,672.34 | +3.2% | £1,300.71 |
| 2016/17 | £1,620.16 | – | £1,260.12 |
Homes by council tax band in South Ribble
South Ribble has 52,990 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 45% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,899.85 a year (£189.98 a month over 10 instalments).
South Ribble compared with North West
South Ribble is the 9th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£40.56 more than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bolton | £2,399.74 | +5.9% |
| St Helens | £2,403.38 | +5% |
| Chorley | £2,430.23 | +3.7% |
| South Ribble | £2,442.66 | +3.8% |
| Tameside | £2,447.21 | +5.9% |
| Warrington | £2,447.61 | +7.3% |
| Cheshire East | £2,454.87 | +5.2% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in South Ribble drops from £1,899.85 to £1,424.89.
- Council Tax Reduction: South Ribble 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).
South Ribble'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.
Empty home discounts in South Ribble
South Ribble still gives a discount on empty homes. Since 1 April 2024 an empty, mostly unfurnished home gets 100% off for its first three months. It then gets 50% off for months three to six. After that the full charge applies. Before April 2024 the 100% discount lasted the full six months.
On a Band C home (£2,171.25 in 2026/27), a landlord whose home sits empty for six months between tenants pays about £271.41. That is half of three months’ charge. Without the discount it would be £1,085.63.
- An empty home that needs major repairs, such as serious fire or flood damage, subsidence, underpinning or a new roof, can get 100% off for up to 12 months. Cosmetic work and minor roof repairs do not count.
- From 1 April 2025 the long-term empty premium starts after 12 months instead of 24.
- South Ribble has its own marketing exception on top of the national ones. At its discretion, it can lift the premium for up to 6 months while a home is actively marketed for sale or let at local average prices. Send your agent’s contact details to the revenues team. After 6 months the premium applies again.
- In special circumstances the Revenues Manager can consider a request to waive the premium, under the council’s local empty property policy.
| Empty and unfurnished for | Discount or premium (from April 2025) |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 months | 100% discount |
| 3 to 6 months | 50% discount |
| 6 to 12 months | Full charge |
| 1 to 5 years | 100% premium (200% charge) |
| 5 to 10 years | 200% premium (300% charge) |
| 10 years or more | 300% premium (400% charge) |
Paying and Council Tax Support in South Ribble
Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 17th or 30th of the month, over 10 or 12 instalments. The 30th is a later date than most councils offer and suits people paid at the end of the month. Council Tax Support is means-tested on your liability, household income, savings and needs. You can claim it while working. Claims can be backdated if you show good cause for applying late.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in South Ribble?
£2,442.66 a year in 2026/27, or £244.27 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in South Ribble?
Band B: 13,680 of 52,990 homes (26%). A Band B bill is £1,899.85 in 2026/27.
How much has South Ribble council tax gone up?
3.8% this year, from £2,352.12 to £2,442.66 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 51%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in South Ribble?
District council £241.28; 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) £12.50 (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.
How long is the empty property discount in South Ribble?
100% for the first three months and 50% for months three to six. After that the full charge applies.
Which direct debit dates can I choose in South Ribble?
The 1st, 17th or 30th of the month, over 10 or 12 instalments.
When does South Ribble charge an empty homes premium?
After 12 months empty, from 1 April 2025. The charge is 200%, rising to 300% after five years and 400% after ten.
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)
- South Ribble Borough Council – Empty and unoccupied properties Council Tax discount
- South Ribble Borough Council – Council Tax Support
- South Ribble Borough Council – Pay Council Tax by Direct Debit