No tax if I can make a thing appear (8)

I believe the answer is:

fixation

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'a thing appear' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'no tax if i can make' is the wordplay.
'can make' indicates anagramming the letters.
'no'+'tax'+'if'+'i'='notaxifi'
'notaxifi' anagrammed gives 'FIXATION'.

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(Other definitions for fixation that I've seen before include "Obsessive interest" , "Obsession" , "Unhealthy preoccupation" , "thing" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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