Public rage — tax far too much (8)
I believe the answer is:
overtire
'tax far too much' is the definition.
(to demand too much of someone)
'public rage' is the wordplay.
'public' becomes 'overt' (associated in meaning).
'rage' becomes 'ire' (ire is intense rage).
'overt'+'ire'='OVERTIRE'
(Other definitions for overtire that I've seen before include "tax too much" , "Get excessively weary" .)