The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word RATEPAYER
R
A
T
E
P
A
Y
E
R
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "he must settle tax bills" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case he must settle tax bills = ratepayer.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 RATEPAYER mean?
RATEPAYER noun- Someone who pays for utility service