Todd And Julie Chrisley’s Fresh Start Rocked By $1.5M Tax Debt

Todd Chrisley and Julie Chrisley may be free of the prison sentences that upended their lives, but a new financial setback has complicated their fresh start. 

The former reality TV stars face a federal tax lien exceeding $1 million, adding another challenge to their post-prison lives. 

The filing comes more than a year after President Donald Trump pardoned the couple, whose legal troubles stemmed from a fraud case that once threatened to keep them behind bars for years.

Todd Chrisley’s Post-Pardon Life Hit With A New Tax Lien

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For Todd Chrisley and his wife, Julie, freedom has not meant an end to their financial obligations. Records obtained exclusively by Page Six show that the Internal Revenue Service filed a $1,571,452 federal tax lien against the couple in Davidson County, Tennessee, on August 19, 2026.

The amount consists of two separate assessments. One covers $142,410.72 in unpaid taxes for 2021, while the other accounts for $1,429,041.89 for 2022. The assessments were dated December 5, 2022, and December 11, 2023, respectively.

The new tax debt comes against the backdrop of the couple’s 2022 convictions. In June that year, a jury found Todd and Julie guilty of conspiring to defraud banks and evade federal taxes after prosecutors accused them of obtaining more than $36 million in loans using falsified financial documents.

Prosecutors accused the couple of using the money to support a lavish lifestyle that included luxury cars, designer clothing, real estate, and travel. 

Todd, now 57, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison in November 2022, while Julie, 53, received a seven-year sentence. Both were also ordered to serve supervised release after prison.

Their circumstances changed in May 2025, when Trump granted them presidential pardons, ending their imprisonment and removing the supervised-release requirements attached to their sentences.

Todd’s Legal Fight Targets The Lawyer Behind His Conviction

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The tax lien is not the only financial matter that has followed Todd Chrisley into his post-prison life. 

The Blast reported in June that the reality TV star and his wife also launched a legal battle against their former defense attorney, Chris Anulewicz, and his former law firm, Balch & Bingham, seeking more than $25 million in damages.

In a complaint filed in the Northern District of Georgia’s Atlanta Division, the couple accused Anulewicz of legal malpractice and breach of contract. 

They argued that their convictions could have been challenged more effectively if their lawyer had objected to evidence they alleged was obtained unlawfully during an investigation by the Georgia Department of Revenue.

The Chrisleys accused Anulewicz of making “a catastrophic, unforced error” and claimed he had “no meaningful defense experience” before representing them in the federal case. They also alleged that he accepted the high-profile case because “the Chrisley name meant money, publicity, and the kind of high-profile notoriety that brings in business.”

The couple further claimed they lost an estimated $25 million in income, their television show, and their reputations. Patrick O’Connor, the attorney representing Balch & Bingham, said the firm would face the complaint head-on.

Todd Chrisley Said His Marriage With Julie Felt Lighter

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The legal dispute formed one part of the pair’s renewed life outside prison, while their relationship was also changing. 

During an appearance on their daughter Savannah Chrisley’s “Unlocked” podcast the following month, the Chrisley patriarch and matriarch discussed how their marriage had evolved since their reunion.

Todd and Julie described a relationship that felt less weighed down by the pressures they had faced for years. 

Todd admitted their connection had become more playful, explaining, per The Blast, “I think [our relationship] is funnier.”

Julie also described the change in their lives, saying, “I think there’s just a lightness [now].” She noted that the legal pressure had felt heavy on a daily basis for roughly a decade, making their present circumstances feel different.

More From The Blast

• Todd Chrisley says it is “not possible” to reconcile with his oldest son Kyle
• Todd Chrisley tells estranged daughter Lindsie to “take our last name off” amid their family feud
• Savannah Chrisley admits living with her parents again after prison has been a “challenge”
• Julie Chrisley reveals why she worked in prison while Todd “refused”

Todd Defended The Values Guiding Daughter Chloe’s Upbringing At Home

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The family life Todd Chrisley and his wife described also included raising their youngest daughter, Chloe, whose upbringing became a subject of discussion on their “Chrisley Confessions” podcast in March. 

The duo adopted Chloe in 2023 after raising her since 2016, and they defended the values they said guided their parenting.

As The Blast shared, they explained that their approach emphasized faith, family, kindness, generosity, and consideration. Todd pointed to feedback from Chloe’s school as evidence that their lessons were making a difference.

“Look at how they talk about her at school. Look at how people say that she’s not for conflict, that she tries to tone that down, that she’s the one they come and pull out of class because she’s the new friend when someone comes into the school new,” he said.

The media personality added that people also described Chloe as kind and considerate. 

Todd Chrisley’s Television Comeback Drew Backlash On ‘The Masked Singer’

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The Chrisleys’ focus on family didn’t stop Todd from facing a mixed response when he returned to television. Earlier this year, Todd and Julie appeared on “The Masked Singer,” where they were revealed as the contestants beneath a giant croissant costume.

The pair appeared cheerful when their identities were revealed, and they exchanged remarks with host Nick Cannon and judge Robin Thicke about the experience. 

However, online reactions were less welcoming, with some viewers questioning why the couple had been given a mainstream television platform after their convictions and subsequent presidential pardons.

According to The Blast, one Instagram commenter wrote, “Ew…. Stop,” while another said, “Oh look, it’s the Chrisleys, that’s a bad idea putting them on here, but hey, all good.” 

Another viewer criticized the show for featuring “felons who have been pardoned by, and continue to support Trump.”

The appearance was part of the couple’s wider return to entertainment following their release. They also relaunched their podcast as “Chrisley Confessions 2.0,” with an insider saying they were excited to return to a project they had enjoyed and share their perspective with listeners.