Council Tax LedgerHome › All councils › North West › Preston
Council tax in Preston 2026/27
£2,576a year for a Band D home in Preston, 2026/27: £258 a month over ten instalments
A Band D home in Preston pays £2,575.74 in council tax for 2026/27, up £98 (4.0%) on 2025/26. Band A pays £1,717 and Band H £5,151. Preston is among the more expensive third of England's 296 billing authorities (rank 50), £184 above the England average of £2,392.
Assumptions: financial year 2026/27 (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027); a dwelling occupied by two adults with no discount, exemption or council tax support; the area average including the average parish precept (9 parish and town councils in Preston set a precept, so bills differ between parishes). Figures as published by MHCLG on 2026-03-25.
All eight bands in Preston
- Preston (billing authority)
- Lancashire County Council
- Lancashire PCC
- Lancashire Fire
- Parish precept (average)
Each rung is one valuation band; its length is the annual bill and the colours show who receives the money. Bands are fixed proportions of Band D: A is 6/9, H is 18/9.
| Band | 1991 value | A year | A month (10) | A month (12) | Change on 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | up to £40,000 | £1,717.16 | £171.72 | £143.10 | +£65.26 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,003.35 | £200.33 | £166.95 | +£76.13 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,289.55 | £228.96 | £190.80 | +£87.02 |
| Dreference band | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,575.74 | £257.57 | £214.64 | +£97.89 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,148.13 | £314.81 | £262.34 | +£119.65 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,720.51 | £372.05 | £310.04 | +£141.39 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,292.90 | £429.29 | £357.74 | +£163.15 |
| H | more than £320,000 | £5,151.48 | £515.15 | £429.29 | +£195.78 |
Annual figures are MHCLG's Table 9 (area council tax by band). The change on 2025/26 applies the statutory band ratio to last year's Band D, so it is exact for Band D and rounded to the pound for other bands. Councils normally bill in ten monthly instalments from April; you can ask for twelve.
Who receives the money
Of the £2,576 Band D bill, £375 (15%) is Preston's own council tax. The rest is collected on behalf of other bodies:
- Preston (billing authority)£375.34
- Lancashire County Council£1,801.75
- Lancashire PCC£292.40
- Lancashire Fire£94.73
- Parish precept (average)average across the area; 9 of 9 parishes set a precept£11.52
- Band D area council tax 2026/27£2,575.74
Band D in Preston, five years
Between 2022/23 and 2026/27 the Band D bill in Preston rose from £2,171 to £2,576, 18.6% in 4 years. England's average went from £1,966 to £2,392 over the same period (21.7%).
Nearby councils in Lancashire
| Council | Band A | Band D | Band H | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnley | £1,700 | £2,549 | £5,099 | +3.8% |
| Fylde | £1,656 | £2,484 | £4,968 | +4.0% |
| Hyndburn | £1,644 | £2,466 | £4,932 | +3.6% |
| Lancaster | £1,669 | £2,503 | £5,006 | +4.0% |
| Pendle | £1,760 | £2,640 | £5,280 | +4.1% |
| Preston | £1,717 | £2,576 | £5,151 | +4.0% |
| Rossendale | £1,680 | £2,520 | £5,040 | +3.9% |
| West Lancashire | £1,637 | £2,456 | £4,912 | +4.0% |
| Wyre | £1,640 | £2,461 | £4,921 | +4.0% |
All councils in the North West · Rankings for England · Every billing authority.
Questions about council tax in Preston
How much is council tax in Preston for a Band D home?
£2,575.74 a year in 2026/27 for a Band D dwelling occupied by two adults, or about £258 a month over the usual ten instalments (£215 over twelve). That is +£98 (+4.0%) compared with 2025/26.
How much is council tax band A in Preston?
Band A in Preston is £1,717.16 a year in 2026/27, about £172 a month over ten instalments. Band A is charged at 6/9 of the Band D figure of £2,576.
How much is council tax band B in Preston?
Band B in Preston is £2,003.35 a year in 2026/27, about £200 a month over ten instalments. Band B is charged at 7/9 of the Band D figure of £2,576.
How much is council tax band C in Preston?
Band C in Preston is £2,289.55 a year in 2026/27, about £229 a month over ten instalments. Band C is charged at 8/9 of the Band D figure of £2,576.
Who receives the council tax paid in Preston?
Preston (billing authority) £375, Lancashire County Council £1,802, Lancashire PCC £292, Lancashire Fire £95, Parish precept (average) £12 at Band D. Preston is a shire district, so most of the bill goes to the county council.
Is council tax in Preston high compared with the rest of England?
Preston ranks 50 of 296 billing authorities on Band D (1 is the most expensive), among the more expensive third. Its Band D of £2,576 is £184 above the England average of £2,392.
Sources
- Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027 (MHCLG statistical release, 25 March 2026) (accessed 2026-09-12) ✓ checked
- Council Tax levels 2026 to 2027: Tables 1 to 9 (Table 9: area council tax for a dwelling occupied by two adults by band) (accessed 2026-09-12) ✓ checked
- Council Tax levels 2026 to 2027: Table 10, local authority level data (precept elements, adult social care, parishes) (accessed 2026-09-12) ✓ checked
- Live tables on Council Tax: Band D council tax figures 1993-94 onwards (revised 22 April 2026) (accessed 2026-09-12) ✓ checked
- Local Government Finance Act 1992, section 5: different categories of dwellings (band proportions 6:7:8:9:11:13:15:18) (accessed 2026-09-12) ✓ checked
Figures for 2026/27 as published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 2026-03-25 (Band D live table revised 22 April 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we calculate · Which band am I?
Council Tax Ledger shows the average area council tax for 2026/27 for a dwelling occupied by two adults with no discounts, as published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Parish precepts vary within a district, so your bill may differ. Not financial advice.