James Van Der Beek grappled with six-figure tax debt years before buying $4.8M Texas ranch prior to his death

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James Van Der Beek faced a massive tax debt years prior to his death.

According to TMZ, actor Joshua Jackson and his wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, faced a significant tax bill – over $100,000 – due to unpaid taxes from 2018 and 2019. They received a federal tax lien in November 2021 regarding this debt.

The IRS determined they owed $95,438.31 from 2017 and $173,890.31 from 2019, bringing their total debt to $269,328.62.

The couple, having recently bought a $4 million house just weeks before Van Der Beek died, cleared the outstanding debt, and the legal claim against the property was removed in April 2022.

The actor passed away last week on February 11th, at 48 years old, following a two-year fight with colorectal cancer.

After he passed away, a GoFundMe campaign was started to support his wife, Kimberly, and their six children with living expenses. His medical bills had drained the family’s finances. As of Monday, the campaign had raised over $2.6 million.

Daily Mail has reached out to Van Der Beek’s representative for comment regarding the tax debt.

After this tragic loss, Kimberly and her children are facing a very difficult and uncertain time ahead.

James’s cancer treatment has been very expensive, and his family is now struggling financially. They’re doing everything they can to keep their home and make sure their children can stay in school and have a stable life during this challenging period.

Having friends, family, and the community rally around them will be incredibly helpful as they move forward.

Your kindness will directly help Kimberly and her family with everyday costs like bills and groceries, and ensure her children can continue their education. Any amount you can give will make a real difference as they work to get back on their feet, offering them hope and a sense of security. We appreciate your support.

Just one month before his death, actor Van Der Beek purchased the 36-acre Texas ranch he’d been renting, spending $4.76 million. He received help with the purchase from friends.

Oh my gosh, you guys, James actually DID it! He managed to get the down payment for the Texas ranch – the RANCH! – for his family, and he did it with a little help from his amazing friends, setting everything up through a trust. It’s incredible, they’re finally going to be homeowners instead of renters! I’m seriously so happy for them, it’s a dream come true!

Van Der Beek and Kimberly relocated their family to Spicewood, Texas from Los Angeles in 2020.

The couple, married in 2010, decided to rent the house to see if they liked the neighborhood before buying it.

Realtor.com’s review of property records shows the couple bought the large house for $4.76 million on January 9th in a private sale.

The Van Der Beeks used an LLC managed by a California attorney, per the outlet.

The property includes a main house, as well as several cabins, a pool, and a backyard that overlooks the river.

They decided to move because their children wanted to live closer to nature, as the father of six shared in a 2021 interview with Austin Life.

‘We wanted to give the children space and we wanted them to live in nature,’ he said at the time.

James Van Der Beek and his wife have six children: daughters Olivia (15), Annabel (12), Emilia (9), and Gwendolyn (7), and sons Joshua (13) and Jeremiah (4).

The move also followed an emotionally taxing time for the Van Der Beek family.

The actor lost his mother Melinda Weber in July 2020, and Kimberly had suffered five miscarriages.

He described his new home as a truly special place, filled with an energy that goes beyond any specific belief system or way of thinking.

He explained that he was drawn to Texas because of its unique character and the practical, down-to-earth lifestyle it offers – something he’d really been wanting.

James Van Der Beek became famous in the 1990s at age 20, starring as Dawson Leery on the popular TV show Dawson’s Creek.

The show aired on the WB network from 1998 to 2003, lasting six seasons, and helped make Katie Holmes, Michelle Williams, and Joshua Jackson famous.

After receiving a stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2024, actor Van Der Beek auctioned off some of his favorite memorabilia from the show Dawson’s Creek to help cover the costs of his treatment.

Van Der Beek said he’s sad to see these items go, but feels it’s the right time because of some recent surprises and changes in his life.

In 2024, the actor sold items from his movie, Varsity Blues, to help cover the costs of his own cancer treatment and to support other patients as well.

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2026-02-17 05:49