Returned it with the tax (5)
I believe the answer is:
tithe
'tax' is the definition.
(historical tax paid to the church)
'returned it with the' is the wordplay.
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'it' backwards is 'ti'.
'ti'+'the'='TITHE'
(Other definitions for tithe that I've seen before include "10 per cent levy" , "Tenth of income given to church" , "Tax to support the church" , "Charge" , "Levy, originally worth one tenth" .)