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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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SIGNATURE SHELDON CURTIS
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
tax-exempt securities
06-30-95 semi annual
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000314367
<NAME> DEAN WITTER TAX-EXEMPT SECURITIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,255,170,209
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,309,603,504
<RECEIVABLES> 20,730,868
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,330,836,059
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 14,536,663
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,107,365
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 16,644,028
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,250,665,990
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 112,584,704
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 117,602,695
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 54,433,295
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<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 116,247,133
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (38,943,406)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (316,958)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (8,678,690)
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<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,331,595,671
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 11.01
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.67
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.48
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</TABLE>
