Preston has fifth highest council tax arrears per home in England

Preston has the fifth highest council tax arrears per home in England, according to official figures.

Arrears in Preston stood at £47.9m at 31 March 2026, which works out at £680 per home. That is more than twice the England average of £288.

The city council also collected 90.7% of council tax due in 2025-26, the fifth lowest collection rate of any council in England. The average across England was 95.6%.

Liverpool had the highest arrears per home in England, at £895, followed by Middlesbrough at £824.

The figures come from official government council tax collection data, compiled for every council in England by IVA Advice Online: https://ivaadviceonline.com/council-tax-arrears-by-council/

Anyone struggling with council tax arrears can get free, confidential help from Citizens Advice, StepChange or National Debtline.