<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Scudder
High Yield Tax Free Fund Annual Report for the fiscal year ended 5/31/2000 and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000203142
<NAME> SCUDDER MUNICIPAL TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 005
<NAME> SCUDDER HIGH YIELD TAX FREE
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAY-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> JUN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 421,216
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 428,308
<RECEIVABLES> 7,496
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,169
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 1
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 438,974
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,039
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,039
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 441,162
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 36,773
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 34,002
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (11,432)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7,205
<NET-ASSETS> 436,935
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 26,586
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 3,685
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 22,901
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5,601)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (22,532)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (5,233)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (22,900)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 206,125
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (206,830)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 15,204
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (13,144)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (5,824)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2,691
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 3,757
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 422,286
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.69
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.66
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.82)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.66)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.87
</TABLE>
