Crossword Genius

Pre-date form - that's bureaucracy (3,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

red tape

'bureaucracy' is the definition.
(red tape means bureaucratic processes)

'pre-date form' is the wordplay.
'form' is an anagram indicator (another form of the letters).
'pre'+'date'='predate'
'predate' is an anagram of 'RED-TAPE'.

'that's' acts as a link.

(Other definitions for red tape that I've seen before include "Scarlet ribbon of bureaucracy" , "Colourful ribbon associated with bureaucracy" , "Colourful bureaucratic procedure" , "Petty official procedures" , "Needlessly time-consuming procedures" .)

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