North West | England | Shire district
Council Tax Bands in Preston 2026/27
Band D 2026/27
£2,575.74
+£97.89 (+4.0%) vs 2025/26
Full band A to H council tax rates for Preston from 1 April 2026.
Quick answer
Council tax bands in Preston for 2026/27 run from £1,717.16 (Band A) to £5,151.48 (Band H), with the Band D reference rate set at £2,575.74 (up 4.0% on 2025/26). All eight bands (A to H) are fixed fractions of Band D; the full rate table with monthly figures is below.
Band A to H Rate Table - Preston 2026/27
| Band | Annual rate | Monthly (10 mths) |
|---|---|---|
| ABand A | £1,717.16 | £171.72 |
| BBand B | £2,003.35 | £200.33 |
| CBand C | £2,289.55 | £228.96 |
| DBand D | £2,575.74 | £257.57 |
| EBand E | £3,148.13 | £314.81 |
| FBand F | £3,720.51 | £372.05 |
| GBand G | £4,292.90 | £429.29 |
| HBand H | £5,151.48 | £515.15 |
Source: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: 2026 to 2027, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Accredited official statistics). Table 9 (area council tax by band) and Table 10 (local authority level data). Snapshot: 2026-27 tables, published 25 March 2026. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Monthly figures are the annual rate divided over the standard 10-instalment plan and the 12-month direct debit option.
What Makes Up the £2,575.74 Bill
A Band D bill in Preston is not one charge. It is 4 separate charges set by 4 different bodies and collected together. The largest is Lancashire at £1,801.75, which is 70% of the total.
| Charged by | Band D element | Share of bill |
|---|---|---|
| Preston billing authority | £386.86 | 15.0% |
| Lancashire | £1,801.75 | 70.0% |
| Lancashire PCC | £292.40 | 11.4% |
| Lancashire Fire | £94.73 | 3.7% |
| Total Band D | £2,575.74 | 100% |
Registry Record for Preston
ONS code
E07000123
MHCLG E-code
E2339
Authority type
Shire district
Area
Lancashire
Tax base 2026/27
45,223
Assumed collection rate
96.20%
Parishes in area
9
Parishes setting a precept
9
Band D rank in England
50 of 296
Registry snapshot
25 March 2026
Preston is a shire district in the North West, within the Lancashire area. Its 2026/27 tax base for setting council tax is 45,223 Band D equivalent dwellings, calculated on an assumed collection rate of 96.20%. 9 of the 9 parish or town councils in the area set their own precept for 2026/27, so households in those parishes pay slightly more than the area figures shown here. Its Band D rate ranks 50 of 296 in England.
Year-on-Year Change
Band D 2025/26
£2,477.85
Band D 2026/27
£2,575.74
Annual increase
+£97.89 (+4.0%)
Preston's Band D rate increased by £97.89 (4.0%) in 2026/27 compared with the previous year. This is within the 5% that an English social care authority can add for 2026/27 without a local referendum (a 3% core limit plus a 2% adult social care precept).
Preston Against the Rest of the North West
Across the 35 billing authorities in the North West, Band D for 2026/27 runs from Wigan at £2,152.68 to Liverpool at £2,673.59, a spread of £520.91. The regional mean is £2,483.22, so Preston sits £92.52 above it. See the full North West table.
Closest Lancashire and North West authorities by Band D
How Band Rates Are Worked Out in Preston
Like every billing authority, Preston sets a single Band D rate each year. All other bands are then calculated as fixed fractions of that rate, set nationally by central government. The fractions are expressed in ninths:
| Band | Fraction of Band D | Calculation | 2026/27 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | 6/9 | £2,575.74 x 6/9 | £1,717.16 |
| Band B | 7/9 | £2,575.74 x 7/9 | £2,003.35 |
| Band C | 8/9 | £2,575.74 x 8/9 | £2,289.55 |
| Band D | 9/9 | Baseline rate | £2,575.74 |
| Band E | 11/9 | £2,575.74 x 11/9 | £3,148.13 |
| Band F | 13/9 | £2,575.74 x 13/9 | £3,720.51 |
| Band G | 15/9 | £2,575.74 x 15/9 | £4,292.90 |
| Band H | 18/9 | £2,575.74 x 18/9 | £5,151.48 |
Contact your council in Preston
For billing enquiries, payment arrangements, discounts, or to report a change in your circumstances, contact the billing authority for Preston directly.
Find contact details on GOV.UKRelated Guides
Preston Council Tax: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Band D council tax in Preston for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band A in Preston for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band B in Preston for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band C in Preston for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band E in Preston for 2026/27?
What are all eight council tax bands in Preston?
How much did council tax rise in Preston this year?
Where does council tax in Preston actually go?
Is council tax in Preston higher or lower than the rest of the North West?
When do I pay council tax to the billing authority for Preston?
What discounts are available on council tax in Preston?
How do I check my council tax band in Preston?
Figures are the 2026/27 tax year, in force from 1 April 2026, as published by MHCLG on 25 March 2026. The 2027/28 tables are due in spring 2027.