West Lancashire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in West Lancashire is £2,456.23 for 2026/27, up 4% (£94.11) on last year. That is £64.71 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 165th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,240.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, North West · Official England government statistics
West Lancashire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,637.49 | £163.75 | £136.46 | £1,228.12 | 14,960 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,910.40 | £191.04 | £159.20 | £1,432.80 | 9,780 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,183.32 | £218.33 | £181.94 | £1,637.49 | 10,630 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,456.23 | £245.62 | £204.69 | £1,842.17 | 7,690 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,002.06 | £300.21 | £250.17 | £2,251.54 | 5,490 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,547.89 | £354.79 | £295.66 | £2,660.92 | 2,700 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,093.72 | £409.37 | £341.14 | £3,070.29 | 1,710 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,912.46 | £491.25 | £409.37 | £3,684.35 | 110 |
- West Lancashire
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your West Lancashire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by West Lancashire but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,456.23 Band D charge, £245.71 (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 A |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £245.71 | 10.0% | £163.81 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,801.75 | 73.4% | £1,201.17 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £292.40 | 11.9% | £194.93 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £94.73 | 3.9% | £63.15 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £21.64 | 0.9% | £14.43 |
- District council £246 10.0%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,802 73.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £292 11.9%
- Fire and rescue authority £95 3.9%
- Parish/town council (average) £22 0.9%
The parish or community council figure is an average across West Lancashire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
West Lancashire council tax history
Band D in West Lancashire has risen from £1,605.49 in 2016/17 to £2,456.23 in 2026/27 — 53% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.7%, the 218th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- West Lancashire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,456.23 | +4.0% | £1,637.49 |
| 2025/26 | £2,362.12 | +4.8% | £1,574.75 |
| 2024/25 | £2,253.03 | +4.7% | £1,502.02 |
| 2023/24 | £2,152.51 | +4.3% | £1,435.01 |
| 2022/23 | £2,064.42 | +4.0% | £1,376.28 |
| 2021/22 | £1,985.64 | +4.0% | £1,323.76 |
| 2020/21 | £1,908.37 | +3.8% | £1,272.25 |
| 2019/20 | £1,838.25 | +4.8% | £1,225.50 |
| 2018/19 | £1,754.50 | +5.6% | £1,169.67 |
| 2017/18 | £1,661.18 | +3.5% | £1,107.45 |
| 2016/17 | £1,605.49 | – | £1,070.33 |
Homes by council tax band in West Lancashire
West Lancashire has 53,070 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 47% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is A, which costs £1,637.49 a year (£163.75 a month over 10 instalments).
West Lancashire compared with North West
West Lancashire is the 14th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£26.99 more than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Warrington | £2,447.61 | +7.3% |
| Cheshire East | £2,454.87 | +5.2% |
| Blackburn with Darwen | £2,455.27 | +5.1% |
| West Lancashire | £2,456.23 | +4% |
| Wyre | £2,460.53 | +4% |
| Hyndburn | £2,465.98 | +3.6% |
| Fylde | £2,483.94 | +4% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in West Lancashire drops from £1,637.49 to £1,228.12.
- Council Tax Reduction: West Lancashire 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).
West Lancashire'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.
West Lancashire's 2026/27 bill: a below-average county rise
West Lancashire Borough Council raised its Band D charge by 2.99%, from £238.58 to £245.71, which works out at £4.73 a week. The borough receives about 10.1% of the total bill. Lancashire County Council's share rose only 3.80% (£1,735.79 to £1,801.79), below the 4.99% that county councils could raise without a referendum. The fire precept rose 5.57% and the police precept 5.41%, so the combined bill before parish precepts rose 3.98%, to £2,434.63.
The borough's net budget requirement of £19.538 million is funded 49% from council tax, 24% from retained business rates and grants, and 27% from general government grants.
Local discounts on empty homes
- Empty, unfurnished homes get 50% off for three months from the date they become empty.
- Homes undergoing structural alteration or major repair get 50% off for up to 12 months, or until six months after the work is finished if that is sooner.
- These local discounts go with the property. They will not apply again until the home has been occupied for at least six weeks.
- After one year the long-term empty premium applies: 200% from one to five years, 300% from five to ten and 400% after ten. Second homes have paid 200% since 1 April 2025, which is £3,274.97 for a Band A home in 2026/27.
- Direct Debits are taken on the 2nd, 15th or 28th of the month. Council Tax Support can be backdated up to six months for working-age claimants with a good reason, and the capital limit is £16,000.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in West Lancashire?
£2,456.23 a year in 2026/27, or £245.62 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in West Lancashire?
Band A: 14,960 of 53,070 homes (28%). A Band A bill is £1,637.49 in 2026/27.
How much has West Lancashire council tax gone up?
4% this year, from £2,362.12 to £2,456.23 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 53%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in West Lancashire?
District council £245.71; 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) £21.64 (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 much did Lancashire County Council increase council tax in 2026/27?
By 3.80%, from £1,735.79 to £1,801.79 at Band D, according to West Lancashire Borough Council.
Is there an empty home discount in West Lancashire?
Yes. Empty, unfurnished homes get 50% off for three months. Homes under major repair can get 50% off for up to 12 months.
What direct debit dates does West Lancashire offer?
The 2nd, 15th or 28th of the month for council tax.
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)
- West Lancashire Borough Council – Rates and banding
- West Lancashire Borough Council – Empty properties
- West Lancashire Borough Council – Pay a bill
- West Lancashire Borough Council – Council tax support