The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word OBLIGATION
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
O
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Duty/money owed" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case duty/money owed = obligation.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does OBLIGATION mean?
OBLIGATION noun- The act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone.
- A social, legal, or moral requirement, duty, contract, or promise that compels someone to follow or avoid a particular course of action.
- A course of action imposed by society, law, or conscience by which someone is bound or restricted.
- A legal agreement stipulating a specified action or forbearance by a party to the agreement; the document containing such agreement.