<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
EXTRACTED FROM
THE FRANKLIN FEDERAL TAX-FREE INCOME FUND APRIL 30, 2000
ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> FRANKLIN FEDERAL TAX-FREE INCOME FUND - CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 6,473,862,945
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 6,481,433,048
<RECEIVABLES> 130,388,737
<ASSETS-OTHER> 2,383,252
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 6,614,205,037
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 7,572,031
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 19,341,496
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 26,913,527
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 6,624,985,628
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5,800,135
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,274,645
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 2,695,511
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (47,959,732)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7,570,103
<NET-ASSETS> 6,587,291,510
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 437,935,705
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (43,480,384)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 394,455,321
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (47,663,825)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (494,853,639)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (148,062,143)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (2,605,389)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (20,970)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,234,722
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (840,415)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 131,183
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (823,396,563)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 3,975,053
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 4,386,667
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (31,729,190)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (43,480,384)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 7,024,335,460
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.300
<PER-SHARE-NII> .590<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.880)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.590)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.010)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.410
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.170
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING.
</FN>
</TABLE>
