Zero put on tax? One working gives sustained applause (7)
I believe the answer is:
ovation
'sustained applause' is the definition.
(as in a standing ovation)
'zero put on tax? one working' is the wordplay.
'zero' becomes 'O' (O resembles 0).
'put on' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'tax?' becomes 'VAT' (UK Value Added Tax).
'one' becomes 'I' (Roman numeral).
'working' becomes 'on' (on can mean working or activated).
'o'+'vat'+'i'+'on'='OVATION'
'gives' is the link.
(Other definitions for ovation that I've seen before include "Overwhelming reception" , "Too vain (anag)" , "Clapping" , "Applause from an audience" , "Enthusiastic applause, often standing" .)