James Van Der Beek's 6-Figure Tax Debt Revealed Amid GoFundMe Backlash

Apart from the struggles with his health, which ultimately led to his death, James Van Der Beek had other challenges.

The popular actor faced financial difficulties, which became public knowledge as his last days approached, when he had to sell off some of his property to fund his cancer treatments.

James Van Der Beek passed away on February 11, 2026, after a prolonged battle with colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly, confirmed the news of his peaceful passing on Instagram after various media outlets broke the news.

More details on Van Der Beek's financial struggles before his death have come to light amid the  GoFundMe backlash. The actor was reportedly dealing with large sums of tax debt a few years before he died.

The "Dawson's Creek" star and his wife, Kimberly, were slammed with a lien in November 2021 for unpaid taxes for 2018 and 2019, bringing the total tax debt close to $300K. According to the IRS, the couple owed 95,438.31 for 2017 and $173,890.31 in 2019, resulting in a gross total of $269,328.62.

TMZ reports that the duo was able to pay off the debt, and the lien was released later in April of the following year. The news of these unpaid tax debts came to light shortly after over $2 million had been raised for his family following the news of his death.

A few months ago, he tried to raise money for his treatment by selling some memorabilia he had kept over the years from his past acting jobs.

A few weeks before the Hollywood star kicked the bucket, he and his wife purchased a $4.8 million home, sitting on a 34-acre ranch in Texas. The family of eight had been renting the place before they decided to buy it.

Van Der Beek's rep revealed the source of the funds for the property. He shared that the actor received financial help from his friends, securing the down payment for the purchase. The couple finalized the deal on January 9, 2026, and the actor tragically died just over a month later.

The Hollywood star relocated with his family to Texas from California a few years back because they yearned for a quieter life. In a previous interview, Van Der Beek said, "We wanted to get the kids out of Los Angeles. We wanted to give them space, and we wanted them to live in nature."

At the time they left Los Angeles, the lovebirds had five children, and their youngest was later born in Texas.

In light of his recent ranch acquisition, many fans questioned the GoFundMe set up to raise financial help for his family after the late actor'ss death.

The crowdfunding was created by close friends of the father of six, with a goal to raise $1.5 million to assist his wife in offsetting some medical bills and other expenses. Fans, friends, and fellow industry members alike have been pouring in thousands of dollars into the fund, surpassing the initial target amount.

The Blast reports that part of the online community has raised dust on whether members of the public should be asked to contribute financially, considering the property the family recently acquired. 

On the flip side, some fans defended Van Der Beek's actions, stating that it was a safe move to provide long-term stability for the family he was leaving behind.

"Looked like JVDB was responsibly preparing to set his family up in case of his death, it makes sense to prioritize your family's home and income as part of one's estate planning," an online user wrote.

Brooks did not look the other way from the backlash hurled online concerning the GoFundMe set up in Van Der Beek's honor.

A few days after his demise, a member of the online community posted an image on the social media site showing a TMZ headline that read, "James Van Der Beek Bought $4.7 million Texas Ranch 1 Month Before Death," along with a screenshot of the GoFundMe page for the actor's family on Threads.

Attached to the images, the user wrote that thousands of people also die, but do not have millions raised to support their families, adding that the Hollywood star would have had life insurance and residual cheques.

Brooks clapped back at the post, writing, "It's ok not to try to seek attention off of other people's suffering or the generosity in response to it... It's ok for you to stay quiet in the face of blind stupidity, meanness, and lack of empathy. But maybe you're not ok."

Before this, the "Law and Order" actor had shared his tribute reflecting on the time he spent with the father of six during his last days.

While the late 48-year-old built popularity from his role as Dawson Leery in the hit show, "Dawson's Creek," that aired from the late 90s to early 2000s, his face would be gracing screens one last time this July.

He is featured in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video teen-comedy series "Elle," where his character is a new mayoral candidate and school district superintendent. The show is a prequel to the "Legally Blonde" film franchise.

As shared by The Blast, Van Der Beek had announced in May last year that he was excited to be part of the project amid his health challenges. Popular actress Reese Witherspoon, who played Elle in the original films, also expressed that she was happy to have him join the franchise.

Van Der Beek is also scheduled to appear on "The Gates" in March, co- starring Mason Gooding, Algee Smith, and Keith Powers.

Is there more to James Van Der Beek's financials?