<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 11/30/95
000 C000000 0000310187
000 D000000 Y
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 IDS HIGH YIELD TAX-EXEMPT FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-2901
001 C000000 6126712772
002 A000000 IDS TOWER 10
002 B000000 MINNEAPOLIS
002 C000000 MN
002 D010000 55440
002 D020000 0010
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 3
022 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
022 B000001 13-5108880
022 C000001 515206
022 D000001 412731
022 A000002 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
022 B000002 13-2518466
022 C000002 479305
022 D000002 236279
022 A000003 SMITH BARNEY INC.
022 B000003 13-1912900
022 C000003 313279
022 D000003 220401
022 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
022 B000004 13-2655998
022 C000004 311871
022 D000004 218425
022 A000005 CHEMICAL BANKING INC.
022 B000005 13-5227302
022 C000005 101656
022 D000005 158004
022 A000006 J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
022 B000006 13-3224016
022 C000006 169539
022 D000006 66730
022 A000007 PAINE WEBBER INC.
022 B000007 13-2638166
022 C000007 132350
022 D000007 91822
<PAGE> PAGE 2
022 A000008 MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
022 B000008 13-5674085
022 C000008 114169
022 D000008 51559
022 A000009 GREENWICH PARTNERS INC.
022 B000009 13-3176013
022 C000009 66057
022 D000009 26249
022 A000010 BEAR STEARNS & CO.
022 B000010 13-3299429
022 C000010 17838
022 D000010 22287
023 C000000 2426138
023 D000000 1554098
028 A01AA00 98541
028 A02AA00 23490
028 A03AA00 0
028 A04AA00 156798
028 B01AA00 82478
028 B02AA00 21326
028 B03AA00 0
028 B04AA00 113767
028 C01AA00 98479
028 C02AA00 21077
028 C03AA00 0
028 C04AA00 62231
028 D01AA00 41003
028 D02AA00 22344
028 D03AA00 0
028 D04AA00 119803
028 E01AA00 127048
028 E02AA00 21815
028 E03AA00 0
028 E04AA00 115141
028 F01AA00 67988
028 F02AA00 22761
028 F03AA00 0
028 F04AA00 62859
028 G01AA00 515537
028 G02AA00 132813
028 G03AA00 0
028 G04AA00 630599
028 H00AA00 117687
062 A00AA00 Y
062 B00AA00 0.0
062 C00AA00 0.0
062 D00AA00 0.0
062 E00AA00 1.8
062 F00AA00 0.0
062 G00AA00 0.0
062 H00AA00 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 3
062 I00AA00 0.0
062 J00AA00 0.0
062 K00AA00 0.0
062 L00AA00 0.7
062 M00AA00 0.0
062 N00AA00 0.0
062 O00AA00 97.5
062 P00AA00 0.0
062 Q00AA00 0.0
062 R00AA00 0.0
063 A00AA00 0
063 B00AA00 21.0
064 A00AA00 Y
064 B00AA00 Y
065 00AA00 N
070 A01AA00 Y
070 A02AA00 N
070 B01AA00 N
070 B02AA00 N
070 C01AA00 Y
070 C02AA00 N
070 D01AA00 N
070 D02AA00 N
070 E01AA00 Y
070 E02AA00 Y
070 F01AA00 N
070 F02AA00 N
070 G01AA00 Y
070 G02AA00 N
070 H01AA00 N
070 H02AA00 N
070 I01AA00 N
070 I02AA00 N
070 J01AA00 Y
070 J02AA00 N
070 K01AA00 N
070 K02AA00 N
070 L01AA00 N
070 L02AA00 N
070 M01AA00 N
070 M02AA00 N
070 N01AA00 Y
070 N02AA00 N
070 O01AA00 Y
070 O02AA00 N
070 P01AA00 Y
070 P02AA00 N
070 Q01AA00 N
070 Q02AA00 N
070 R01AA00 N
070 R02AA00 N
<PAGE> PAGE 4
071 A00AA00 849400
071 B00AA00 837487
071 C00AA00 5920851
071 D00AA00 14
072 A00AA00 12
072 B00AA00 426652
072 C00AA00 0
072 D00AA00 0
072 E00AA00 0
072 F00AA00 27956
072 G00AA00 1292
072 H00AA00 55
072 I00AA00 2896
072 J00AA00 252
072 K00AA00 416
072 L00AA00 240
072 M00AA00 154
072 N00AA00 100
072 O00AA00 0
072 P00AA00 0
072 Q00AA00 0
072 R00AA00 41
072 S00AA00 0
072 T00AA00 531
072 U00AA00 0
072 V00AA00 0
072 W00AA00 7704
072 X00AA00 41637
072 Y00AA00 86
072 Z00AA00 385101
072AA00AA00 41290
072BB00AA00 29437
072CC01AA00 641790
072CC02AA00 0
072DD01AA00 385098
072DD02AA00 0
072EE00AA00 0
073 A01AA00 0.0000
073 A02AA00 0.0000
073 B00AA00 0.0000
073 C00AA00 0.0000
074 A00AA00 0
074 B00AA00 0
074 C00AA00 118022
074 D00AA00 6250363
074 E00AA00 0
074 F00AA00 0
074 G00AA00 0
074 H00AA00 0
074 I00AA00 0
074 J00AA00 8075
<PAGE> PAGE 5
074 K00AA00 0
074 L00AA00 133226
074 M00AA00 0
074 N00AA00 6509686
074 O00AA00 85671
074 P00AA00 235
074 Q00AA00 0
074 R01AA00 0
074 R02AA00 0
074 R03AA00 0
074 R04AA00 11583
074 S00AA00 0
074 T00AA00 6412197
074 U01AA00 1377055
074 U02AA00 0
074 V01AA00 0.00
074 V02AA00 0.00
074 W00AA00 0.0000
074 X00AA00 183809
074 Y00AA00 0
075 A00AA00 0
075 B00AA00 6111763
076 00AA00 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
080 A00AA00 RELIANCE INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C00AA00 2500
081 A00AA00 N
081 B00AA00 0
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 10966
030 B000100 5.00
030 C000100 0.50
031 A000100 3848
031 B000100 0
032 000100 0
033 000100 7118
034 000100 Y
035 000100 0
036 A000100 N
036 B000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 0
042 D000100 0
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 100
043 000100 340
044 000100 0
034 000200 Y
035 000200 17
036 A000200 N
036 B000200 0
042 A000200 0
042 B000200 0
042 C000200 0
042 D000200 0
042 E000200 0
042 F000200 0
042 G000200 0
042 H000200 100
043 000200 191
044 000200 0
SIGNATURE LESLIE L. OGG
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> IDS HIGH YIELD TAX-EXEMPT FUND CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> DEC-01-1995
<PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 5819390076
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6368385523
<RECEIVABLES> 141301049
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6509686572
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 85670999
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11818268
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 97489267
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5933522173
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1356375237
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1380760792
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 6694
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (86902133)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 565570571
<NET-ASSETS> 6412197305
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 426651811
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (41551291)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 385100520
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 11853067
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 641790089
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1038743676
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (383035556)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 205021043
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (288309966)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 58903368
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 643144040
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 416298236
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (76837611)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 27955627
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 41551291
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 6072962477
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.18
<PER-SHARE-NII> .28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .48
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.28)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.66
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .68
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> IDS HIGH YIELD TAX-EXEMPT FUND CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> MAR-20-1995
<PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 5819390076
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6368385523
<RECEIVABLES> 141301049
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6509686572
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 85670999
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11818268
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 97489267
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5933522173
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 15336396
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 6694
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (86902133)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 565570571
<NET-ASSETS> 6412197305
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 426651811
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (41551291)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 385100520
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 11853067
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 641790089
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1038743676
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1365603)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 15737180
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (647677)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 246893
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 643144040
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 416298236
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (76837611)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 27955627
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 41551291
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 36237990
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.46
<PER-SHARE-NII> .19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .20
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.19)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.66
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.48
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> IDS HIGH YIELD TAX-EXEMPT FUND CLASS Y
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1995
<PERIOD-START> MAR-20-1995
<PERIOD-END> NOV-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 5819390076
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6368385523
<RECEIVABLES> 141301049
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6509686572
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 85670999
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 11818268
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 97489267
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5933522173
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5343662
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 6694
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (86902133)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 565570571
<NET-ASSETS> 6412197305
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 426651811
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (41551291)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 385100520
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 11853067
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 641790089
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1038743676
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (697056)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 27954933
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (22611371)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 100
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 643144040
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 416298236
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (76837611)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 27955627
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 41551291
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 15554995
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.46
<PER-SHARE-NII> .22
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .20
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.22)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.66
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .54
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
