What you can pay for tacks, we’re told (3)
I believe the answer is:
tax
'what you can pay' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'tacks we're told' is the wordplay.
'we're told' indicates a 'sounds like' (homophone) clue.
'tacks' sounds like 'TAX'.
'for' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for tax that I've seen before include "Are demanding" , "VAT, for instance" , "State levy" , "Government imposition" , "Impost" .)