Honey badger (5)
(Other definitions for rates that I've seen before include "List of charges" , "Assigns a value (to)" , "council tax" , "Former local tax" , "Property levy" .)
'honey badger' is the definition.
(synonyms)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for ratel that I've seen before include "animal like a badger" , "one wanting honey" , "predator" , "creature with sweet tooth" , "Honey-badger" .)