<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 05/31/97
000 C000000 0000310187
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
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
028 A01AA00 79069
028 A02AA00 20196
028 A03AA00 0
028 A04AA00 155285
028 B01AA00 35749
028 B02AA00 22365
028 B03AA00 0
028 B04AA00 131228
028 C01AA00 61356
028 C02AA00 20332
028 C03AA00 0
028 C04AA00 90717
028 D01AA00 32797
028 D02AA00 18112
028 D03AA00 0
028 D04AA00 98161
028 E01AA00 56802
028 E02AA00 22412
028 E03AA00 0
028 E04AA00 97259
028 F01AA00 175971
028 F02AA00 19219
028 F03AA00 0
028 F04AA00 170684
028 G01AA00 441744
028 G02AA00 122636
028 G03AA00 0
028 G04AA00 743334
<PAGE> PAGE 2
028 H00AA00 92211
062 A00AA00 N
062 B00AA00 0.0
062 C00AA00 0.0
062 D00AA00 0.0
062 E00AA00 0.0
062 F00AA00 0.0
062 G00AA00 0.0
062 H00AA00 0.0
062 I00AA00 0.0
062 J00AA00 0.0
062 K00AA00 0.0
062 L00AA00 0.0
062 M00AA00 0.0
062 N00AA00 0.0
062 O00AA00 0.0
062 P00AA00 0.0
062 Q00AA00 0.0
062 R00AA00 0.0
071 A00AA00 0
071 B00AA00 0
071 C00AA00 0
071 D00AA00 0
072 A00AA00 6
072 B00AA00 199301
072 C00AA00 0
072 D00AA00 0
072 E00AA00 0
072 F00AA00 13284
072 G00AA00 901
072 H00AA00 1
072 I00AA00 1305
072 J00AA00 0
072 K00AA00 203
072 L00AA00 39
072 M00AA00 10
072 N00AA00 51
072 O00AA00 0
072 P00AA00 0
072 Q00AA00 0
072 R00AA00 6
072 S00AA00 0
072 T00AA00 552
072 U00AA00 0
072 V00AA00 0
072 W00AA00 5117
072 X00AA00 21469
072 Y00AA00 203
072 Z00AA00 178035
072AA00AA00 0
072BB00AA00 7707
<PAGE> PAGE 3
072CC01AA00 0
072CC02AA00 53271
072DD01AA00 177125
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 0
074 D00AA00 0
074 E00AA00 0
074 F00AA00 0
074 G00AA00 0
074 H00AA00 0
074 I00AA00 0
074 J00AA00 0
074 K00AA00 0
074 L00AA00 0
074 M00AA00 5922679
074 N00AA00 5922679
074 O00AA00 0
074 P00AA00 43
074 Q00AA00 0
074 R01AA00 0
074 R02AA00 0
074 R03AA00 0
074 R04AA00 2051
074 S00AA00 0
074 T00AA00 5920585
074 U01AA00 1310998
074 U02AA00 0
074 V01AA00 0.00
074 V02AA00 0.00
074 W00AA00 0.0000
074 X00AA00 164049
074 Y00AA00 0
075 A00AA00 0
075 B00AA00 5973255
076 00AA00 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 N
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 4
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 4129
030 B000100 5.00
030 C000100 0.50
031 A000100 1481
031 B000100 0
032 000100 0
033 000100 2648
034 000100 Y
035 000100 0
036 A000100 N
036 B000100 0
034 000200 Y
035 000200 119
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 552
044 000200 0
SIGNATURE LESLIE L. OGG
TITLE GENERAL COUNSEL
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> IDS HIGH YIELD TAX-EXEMPT FUND CLASS A
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 5922678726
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5922678726
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2093555
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2093555
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5635953598
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1275580248
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1315749662
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1095205
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 82919132
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 366455500
<NET-ASSETS> 5760644728
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 199300667
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 21265459
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 178035208
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7707387)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (53270510)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 117057311
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (173088268)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (91379)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 88108049
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (154815076)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 26537613
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (239022227)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 91536
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 75118192
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 13284241
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 21468492
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 5800979874
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.56
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.14
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.04)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.14)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.52
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.70
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0.00
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> IDS HIGH YIELD TAX-EXEMPT FUND CLASS B
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 5922678726
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5922678726
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2093555
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2093555
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5635953598
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 35415065
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 30326133
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1095205
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 82919132
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 366455500
<NET-ASSETS> 159928962
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 199300667
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 21265459
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 178035208
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7707387)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (53270510)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 117057311
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (3856563)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (2174)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 7701475
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3311481)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 698938
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (239022227)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 91536
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 75118192
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 13284241
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 21468492
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 147672303
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.56
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.12
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.04)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.12)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.52
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.45
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0.00
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> IDS HIGH YIELD TAX-EXEMPT FUND CLASS Y
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> NOV-30-1997
<PERIOD-END> MAY-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 5922678726
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5922678726
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2093555
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2093555
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5635953598
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2540
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4510047
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1095205
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 82919132
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 366455500
<NET-ASSETS> 11481
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 199300667
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 21265459
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 178035208
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7707387)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (53270510)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 117057311
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (86708)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2172208
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (6679792)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 77
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (239022227)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 91536
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 75118192
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 13284241
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 21468492
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2970539
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.56
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.14
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.04)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.14)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.52
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.54
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0.00
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>