Praise previous dictator’s tax (5)
I believe the answer is:
extol
'praise' is the definition.
(I know that extol is a more specific form of the action praise)
'previous dictator's tax' is the wordplay.
'previous' becomes 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime).
'dictator's' shows a homophone (sound like) (as somebody dictating would pronounce the word).
'tax' becomes 'toll' (I've seen this in another clue).
'toll' sounds like 'tol'.
'ex'+'tol'='EXTOL'
(Other definitions for extol that I've seen before include "Warmly approve of" , "Talk up" , "be lavish with praise" , "Speak well of" , "Laud; glorify" .)