Reality television personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley are facing fresh financial scrutiny after the Internal Revenue Service filed a $1,571,452 federal tax lien against the couple. Public records reviewed by Page Six show the filing was officially registered in Davidson County, Tennessee, on August 19, 2026. This came more than a year after President Donald Trump granted the couple federal pardons.
The newly surfaced lien comprises two distinct unpaid tax assessments. The first lists $142,410.72 in unpaid taxes for the tax period ending December 31, 2021. The IRS assessed this amount on December 5, 2022. The second and larger assessment totals $1,429,041.89 for the period ending December 31, 2022. The IRS assessed this portion on December 11, 2023. Together, these figures form the total federal claim against the former Chrisley Knows Best stars.
The Federal Tax Lien and the 2025 Pardon
A federal tax lien functions as a legal claim by the government against a taxpayer’s property due to overdue tax obligations. Crucially, the filing of a tax lien does not establish that the couple has committed a new criminal offense. Instead, it represents an administrative effort by the IRS to secure its interest in the couple’s assets.
The timing of the tax lien has drawn widespread public attention because it follows the clemency granted to the couple. On May 28, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued full pardons to Todd and Julie Chrisley. This effectively ended the federal prison sentences and supervised-release requirements tied to their previous convictions. However, legal experts note that executive clemency addresses federal criminal judgments and convictions. It does not cancel underlying civil tax liabilities, erase accrued debt, or prevent the IRS from pursuing collection actions.
Background on the 2022 Criminal Convictions
The couple’s legal battles originated from a federal indictment and subsequent trial in Atlanta. In June 2022, a federal jury convicted Todd and Julie Chrisley on multiple counts. These included conspiracy to defraud banks, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and tax evasion.
Federal prosecutors established during the trial that the couple utilized falsified financial documents to secure more than $36 million in fraudulent bank loans. According to the case details, the loan proceeds were subsequently used to finance luxury vehicles, designer clothing, high-end real estate, and extensive travel. In November 2022, U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross sentenced Todd Chrisley to 12 years in federal prison, while Julie Chrisley received a seven-year sentence.
Both began serving their respective sentences in January 2023. Todd went to the federal prison camp in Pensacola, Florida, and Julie went to a federal correctional institution in Tallahassee, Florida. They served their time before their release following the 2025 presidential pardons.
Current Status and Public Return
Since their release from federal custody and subsequent reunion, Todd and Julie Chrisley have resumed public-facing projects. These include launching their podcast, Chrisley Confessions 2.0, and participating in other television appearances. As of mid-October 2026, the $1,571,452 tax lien remained a matter of public record in Davidson County. Representatives for the couple had not issued a public statement addressing the specific lien filing.
