Payments subject to approval (8)

I believe the answer is:

tributes

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'payments' is the definition.
(I know this)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for tributes that I've seen before include "Accolades" , "Credits" , "payments of state dependency" , "Compliments paid by bitter us" , "Speeches in praise or thanks" .)

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

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