CouncilTaxCostUK
2026/27 Official MHCLG Billing Data
Preston City Council • ONS LAD E07000123
Above England averageRank #51 of 296 (England)

Preston Council Tax 2026/2027

Official municipal billing authority: Preston City Council (District Council (Two-Tier)) in North West, England. Administering 4 postcode districts under Council Tax (England Statutory 1991 Valuation).

Band D Base Annual£2,575.74100% Consistent Base
YoY Annual Increase+3.66%+£90.94 vs 2025/26
Regional Rank (North West)#9 of 36In North West
Postcodes Monitored4Postcode Districts

Statutory Tariff Table: Preston

Full annual fees and discounted rates applicable across all 4 outcodes in this authority.

10 & 12 Monthly Direct Debit
Valuation BandFull Annual (£)10-Mo Direct DebitSingle Person (-25%)Single 10-Mo
Band A
£1,717.16£171.72/mo£1,287.87£128.79/mo
Band B
£2,003.35£200.34/mo£1,502.51£150.25/mo
Band C
£2,289.55£228.96/mo£1,717.16£171.72/mo
Band DBenchmark
£2,575.74£257.57/mo£1,931.81£193.18/mo
Band E
£3,148.13£314.81/mo£2,361.10£236.11/mo
Band F
£3,720.51£372.05/mo£2,790.38£279.04/mo
Band G
£4,292.90£429.29/mo£3,219.68£321.97/mo
Band H
£5,151.48£515.15/mo£3,863.61£386.36/mo

2026/27 Statistical Rank & Regional Benchmark

Deterministic mathematical comparisons against statutory England benchmarks and regional council tax league averages.

Fiscal Year 2026/2027
1. Benchmark & Regional Delta+£183.74vs England average Band D (£2,392)

Preston Band D is +7.7% higher than the statutory England benchmark. Cumulative 5-year difference: +£918.70.

Regional mean in North West: £2486.00 (+£89.74).
2. England StandingRank #51 of 296 in EnglandTop 17% highest Band D in England

Within North West, Preston ranks #9 of 36 billing authorities for Band D charges.

Nation Percentile: 17th percentile in England.
3. Direct Debit Installment Options£257.57 / 10 mosor £214.64 / 12 months

Switching from the default 10-installment plan to the statutory 12-month schedule lowers your monthly bill by £42.93 / month, spreading cash outflows across February and March.

Local authorities are legally required to grant 12-month billing upon written or online request.

Nearby Authorities in North West: Cheaper vs Pricier Alternatives

Cheaper Neighbouring Councils in North West:
Bury
Save £20.59/yrBand D: £2555.15 (-0.8%)
Burnley
Save £26.32/yrBand D: £2549.42 (-1%)
Rossendale
Save £55.77/yrBand D: £2519.97 (-2.2%)
Higher-Tariff Neighbouring Councils in North West:
Sefton (Bootle)
+£7.48/yrBand D: £2583.22 (+0.3%)
Sefton
+£7.48/yrBand D: £2583.22 (+0.3%)
Salford
+£18.71/yrBand D: £2594.45 (+0.7%)

Who Sets Your Bill: Precepting Authority Structure

Statutory breakdown structure for Council Tax levied across Preston (Preston City Council).

Statutory Local Tiers

Four-Tier Shire County & District Precept Structure

As a two-tier non-metropolitan district, your total bill in Preston is split between four separate precepting bodies:

  • County Council (typically ~70% of bill): Funds upper-tier services including adult social care, children's services, education infrastructure, major highways, and public health.
  • Preston City Council (District Billing Authority, ~10–15%): Collects your tax and funds local borough functions—refuse collection, housing, planning approvals, and environmental health.
  • Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC, ~10–12%): Sets an independent precept to fund regional policing operations.
  • Fire and Rescue Authority (~3–4%): Funds emergency fire rescue and prevention operations.

Where applicable, parished communities also contribute a local Town or Parish Council precept for hyper-local amenities.

Official Bill Verification: Exact statutory line-by-line pound allocations are itemised on your annual Council Tax Demand Notice issued each March. For specific budget schedules, consult Preston City Council's official 2026/27 council tax resolution.