Couch returned before time for money to be paid (4)
I believe the answer is:
debt
'money to be paid' is the definition.
'couch returned before time' is the wordplay.
'couch' becomes 'bed' (I've seen this before).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'before' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'time' becomes 't'.
'bed' backwards is 'deb'.
'deb'+'t'='DEBT'
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for debt that I've seen before include "Money or favour owed" , "Amount owed" , "Arrears, liability" , "Amount owing" , "What's due" .)