The reported $1.7 million debt in Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott’s divorce coverage refers to back taxes—not the former couple’s total debt. Us Weekly reported that their settlement said they would work together to pay the tax bill; Fox Business later specified more than $1.2 million owed to the IRS and more than $500,000 to California’s Franchise Tax Board, with the tax liabilities to be shared evenly. Fox Business reported that the court entered the final divorce judgment on November 13, 2025.
What does the reported $1.7 million debt cover?
Us Weekly reported that the settlement agreement said Spelling and McDermott owed $1.7 million in back taxes and would work on paying that debt together. Fox Business’s account of the final judgment broke the tax liabilities into two categories:
| Reported tax liability | Amount and responsibility reported |
|---|---|
| Federal taxes | More than $1.2 million owed to the IRS; Fox Business reported the parties would share it, with each responsible for at least $600,000. |
| California taxes | More than $500,000 owed to the California Franchise Tax Board; Fox Business reported this liability would also be split evenly. |
The figures are outlet-reported descriptions of the settlement and judgment, not a verified statement of what either person currently owes. An agreement to address a liability does not establish that it has since been paid or discharged.
When was the divorce finalized?
Fox Business reported that the court entered the final judgment on November 13, 2025, making the divorce legally final. That date is distinct from the settlement filing: Us Weekly reported that the agreement was filed on November 3. Spelling discussed the divorce on her podcast on November 10, before the judgment date. In January 2026, an AOL page republishing RadarOnline reporting quoted Spelling describing herself as officially divorced; that later public account is not the date the court entered judgment.
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The proceedings began earlier. The Associated Press reported that Spelling filed for divorce in Los Angeles Superior Court on March 29, 2024, citing irreconcilable differences. Her petition sought sole physical custody and joint legal custody at that time. The settlement coverage later described shared custody.
Was $1.7 million the couple’s total debt?
No. The $1.7 million figure was reported as a tax debt. The settlement coverage and separate reporting also described bank, personal, medical, credit-card, and other obligations. Those amounts should not be added to the tax figure as though the reports establish one definitive total.
- City National Bank: Us Weekly reported a balance of $395,729.82 plus accrued interest in a June 2025 account of the bank’s filing. The outlet traced the dispute to a loan and a 2017 judgment. Fox Business reported that the divorce arrangement addressed responsibility for part of the bank balance.
- American Express: Fox Business reported an approximately $37,000 collection account. Us Weekly’s account of the settlement said the parties would split an American Express bill.
- Loans and personal obligations: Us Weekly reported that Spelling would not hold McDermott accountable for a $288,000 loan to a third party and another $70,000 loan. Fox Business separately described $288,000 owed to a private individual and $69,000 to another unidentified individual. The reports do not phrase every obligation identically.
- Medical expenses and other debts: Us Weekly said Spelling would cover $10,000 in medical bills and her credit cards, while McDermott would cover $20,000 in medical bills and his credit cards. Fox Business separately reported $10,228 in uninsured medical expenses for Spelling, and $20,609 in uninsured medical bills plus $22,000 in student loans for McDermott.
What did the reported settlement say about support, custody, and property?
Us Weekly reported that neither party would pay child or spousal support and that custody would be shared. Fox Business described joint legal custody and reported that each parent would cover expenses during their own care time, while healthcare and extracurricular costs would be split.
Us Weekly also reported that Spelling retained her accounts, entertainment companies, furniture in her possession, certain vehicles, her interest in a SAG-Producers pension, Beverly Hills, 90210 residuals, solo books, podcast revenue, and specified project interests. The outlet said McDermott retained three named vehicles. These reported allocations describe aspects of the settlement; they do not change what the separate tax figures represent.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Why do reports give different separation dates?
The reported dates differ. Us Weekly said the settlement listed June 17, 2023, as the separation date, while its November 4, 2025 story said McDermott’s response gave July 7, 2023. Without treating either reported date as definitively settled, the discrepancy is best understood as a difference in the filings as described by the outlet.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the reported figures establish—and what they do not
The available accounts identify the $1.7 million as back taxes and describe how the settlement divided responsibility for federal and California tax liabilities. They also report separate financial obligations and terms on custody, support, and property. The underlying court documents were not directly reviewed here, and the cited reports do not establish whether the tax or bank balances were later paid, changed, or contested.
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