LEGG MASON TAX EXEMPT TRUST INC
497, 2000-05-04
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LEGG MASON
TAX EXEMPT TRUST, INC.

A money market fund seeking to produce high
current income exempt from federal income tax,
to preserve capital, and to maintain liquidity.






                            PROSPECTUS April 28, 2000

                            THE ART OF INVESTING(sm)






As with all mutual funds, the Securities and Exchange  Commission has not passed
upon the  accuracy  or  adequacy  of this  prospectus,  nor has it  approved  or
disapproved these securities. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

<PAGE>

T A B L E  O F  C O N T E N T S

About the fund:
- ---------------

   1         Investment objective
   3         Principal risks
   5         Performance
   6         Fees and expenses of the fund
   7         Management


About your investment:
- ----------------------

   9         How to invest
  11         How to sell your shares
  13         Account policies
  14         Services for investors
  16         Distributions and taxes
  17         Financial highlights


<PAGE>

LEGG MASON TAX EXEMPT TRUST, INC.

[icon]  I N V E S T M E N T  O B J E C T I VE

INVESTMENT  OBJECTIVE:  High  current  income  exempt from  federal  income tax,
preservation  of capital,  and  maintenance  of  liquidity.  The fund is a money
market  fund that  seeks to  maintain a  constant  net asset  value of $1.00 per
share.

PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES:  To achieve its objective,  the fund adheres to
the following practices:

o        it invests primarily in short-term, high-quality municipal obligations,
         the  interest on which is exempt from  federal  income tax and is not a
         tax  preference  item for purposes of the federal  alternative  minimum
         tax.

o        as a fundamental policy,  except during defensive periods, it maintains
         at least 80% of its assets invested in municipal  obligations that have
         remaining  maturities  of one  year or less or  that  are  variable  or
         floating rate demand notes.  Variable and floating rate  securities are
         securities  whose interest rates change at specified  intervals so they
         approximate current market rates.

o        it invests the balance of its assets in municipal obligations that have
         remaining  maturities  of 397  days or less or  that  are  variable  or
         floating rate demand notes.

o        it maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity of 90 days or less.

o        it limits its  investments to obligations  that present  minimal credit
         risk in the  opinion  of the  adviser  and are  rated in one of the two
         highest  short-term  ratings  categories  by at  least  two  nationally
         recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSROs"), such as Moody's
         Investors  Service,  Inc.,  ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's ("S&P") or
         one NRSRO if only rated by one.  If a security is unrated by any NRSRO,
         the adviser may determine the security to be of comparable quality.

o        it may invest, to a limited extent, in taxable  short-term money market
         instruments.

The  fund may  invest  in  securities  issued  by or on  behalf  of the  states,
territories  and  possessions  of the United States and the District of Columbia
and their political  subdivisions,  agencies,  instrumentalities or authorities.
These debt  obligations  generally are issued to obtain funds for various public
purposes,  including  constructing a wide range of public facilities,  refunding
outstanding  obligations,  obtaining  funds for general  operating  expenses and
making loans to other public institutions and facilities.  Municipal obligations
in which the fund may invest include, but are not limited to:

o        revenue bonds
o        general obligation bonds
o        private activity bonds
o        tax anticipation notes
o        bond anticipation notes
o        revenue anticipation notes.

The fund does not intend to invest more than 25% of its net assets in:

o        municipal obligations whose issuers are in the same state;

o        municipal  obligations  that  are  repayable  out  of  revenue  streams
         generated from economically related projects or facilities; or

o        private  activity bonds issued by issuers in the same  industries.  For
         purposes of this restriction,  there is no limitation on investments in
         U.S. Treasury  securities or other obligations  issued or guaranteed by
         the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities.

The fund may, from time to time,  take  temporary  defensive  positions that are
inconsistent with its principal investment  strategies.  At such times, the fund
may not be pursuing its principle  investment  strategies and it may not achieve
its investment objective.

<PAGE>

[icon]  P R I N C I P A L  R I S K S

IN GENERAL:

There is no assurance the fund will meet its investment objective.  Although the
fund seeks to maintain a net asset  value of $1.00 per share,  it is possible to
lose money by investing in the fund. As with all mutual funds,  an investment in
the  fund  is not  insured  or  guaranteed  by  the  Federal  Deposit  Insurance
Corporation or any other government agency.

INTEREST RATE RISK:

Interest  rate risk is the  possibility  that the  market  prices of the  fund's
investments  may decline due to an increase in interest  rates.  Generally,  the
longer the maturity of an  obligation,  the greater the effect on its value when
rates change.

Certain  securities  pay interest at variable or floating  rates.  Variable rate
securities  reset at specified  intervals,  while floating rate securities reset
whenever  there is a change in a specified  index rate.  These reset  provisions
generally  reduce  the  effect  of  market  interest  rates on the  value of the
security.

CREDIT RISK:

Credit  risk is the risk  that an  issuer  of  securities  will be unable to pay
principal  and interest  when due, or that the value of the security will suffer
because investors believe the issuer is less able to pay. This is broadly gauged
by the credit  ratings of the  securities  in which the fund  invests.  However,
ratings are only the opinions of the private  companies issuing them and are not
absolute guarantees as to quality.

The fund  considers  the  "issuer"  of a municipal  obligation  to be the entity
responsible  for  payment.  Thus,  the District of  Columbia,  each state,  each
political subdivision,  agency,  instrumentality and authority thereof, and each
multi-state  agency of which a state is a member is a separate  "issuer" as that
term is used in this prospectus.  In certain  circumstances,  the non-government
user of facilities  financed by private  activity  bonds is considered to be the
issuer.

OTHER RISKS:

Not all obligations of the U.S. Government,  its agencies and  instrumentalities
are backed by the full faith and  credit of the United  States;  some are backed
only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality.  The credit quality
of private  activity bonds is usually directly related to the credit standing of
the corporate  user of the  facilities.  Accordingly,  there may be some risk of
default by the issuer.


Current efforts to restructure the federal budget and the  relationship  between
the federal  government and state and local governments may adversely impact the
financing of some issuers of municipal  securities.  Some states and  localities
are experiencing substantial deficits and may find it difficult for political or
economic  reasons to increase taxes.  Efforts are also under way that may result
in a restructuring of the federal income tax system.  These  developments  could
reduce the value of all municipal  securities,  or the  securities of particular
issuers.

The fund is not intended to be a balanced investment program and is not designed
for  investors  who are  unable  to  benefit  from  tax-exempt  income,  such as
qualified retirement plans and individual  retirement accounts.  The fund is not
appropriate  for investors  seeking capital  appreciation or maximum  tax-exempt
income irrespective of fluctuations in principal.

The fund is not an  appropriate  investment for  "substantial  users" of certain
facilities  financed  by  private  activity  bonds or  persons  related  to such
"substantial users." For more information,  see the "Additional Tax Information"
section in the Statement of Additional Information.

<PAGE>

[icon]  P E R F O R M A N C E

The  information  below  provides an indication of the risks of investing in the
fund by showing  changes in its  performance  from year to year.  Annual returns
assume   reinvestment  of  dividends  and  distributions,   if  any.  Historical
performance  of the fund does not  necessarily  indicate what will happen in the
future.

YEAR BY YEAR TOTAL RETURN AS OF DECEMBER 31 OF EACH YEAR (%)

1990     5.30

1991     3.93

1992     2.34

1993     1.75

1994     2.25

1995     3.17

1996     2.85

1997     2.95

1998     2.75

1999     2.56

                           DURING THE PAST TEN YEARS:

                       Quarter Ended                Total Return
                       -------------                ------------
Best quarter:          December 31, 1990                   1.34%
Worst quarter:         March 31, 1993                      0.42%

For the fund's current seven-day yield, call toll-free 1-800-822-5544.


AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1999:

    1 Year                  2.56%
    5 Years                 2.86%
    10 Years                2.99%

<PAGE>

[icon]  F E E S  A N D  E X P E N S E S  O F  T H E  F U N D

The table  below  describes  the fees and  expenses  you will incur  directly or
indirectly as an investor in the fund. The fund pays operating expenses directly
out of its assets so they lower the fund's  dividends.  Other  expenses  include
transfer agency,  custody,  professional and registration  fees. The fund has no
sales charge or redemption fee, but is subject to a Rule 12b-1 service fee.

                         Annual Fund Operating Expenses
                  (expenses that are deducted from fund assets)
                   -------------------------------------------

Management fees                                          0.50%
Service (12b-1)fee                                       0.20%(a)
Other Expenses                                           0.11%
- --------------                                          ------

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses                     0.81%


(a)  Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated has agreed to waive 0.10% of the 12b-1
     service fee indefinitely, reducing total expenses from 0.81% to 0.71%.

EXAMPLE:

This  example  helps you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost
of investing in other mutual funds.  Although your actual costs may be higher or
lower, you would pay the following expenses on a $10,000 investment in the fund,
assuming (1) a 5% return each year, (2) the fund's operating expenses remain the
same as shown in the table  above,  and (3) you redeem all of your shares at the
end of the time periods shown. Actual returns may be higher or lower than 5% per
year.

    1 Year        3 Years        5 Years        10 Years
    ------        -------        -------        --------

    $  83         $ 259          $ 450          $1,002

<PAGE>

[icon]  M AN A G E M E N T

ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR:

Legg Mason Capital Management,  Inc. ("Adviser"),  100 Light Street,  Baltimore,
Maryland 21202, is the investment  adviser for the fund. The Adviser directs the
investments of the fund in accordance with its investment  objectives,  policies
and limitations.  The Adviser acts as investment  adviser to investment  company
portfolios  and to  private  accounts  for  institutions  and  individuals  with
aggregate assets of about $5.8 billion as of December 31, 1999.


Legg Mason Fund Adviser, Inc. ("LMFA"),  100 Light Street,  Baltimore,  Maryland
21202, is the fund's  administrator.  LMFA is responsible for the non-investment
affairs of the fund,  providing  office space and  administrative  staff for the
fund and directing all matters  related to the operation of the fund.  LMFA acts
as manager or investment  adviser to investment  companies with aggregate assets
of about $18.2 billion as of December 31, 1999.


For its  services,  the fund paid the  Adviser a fee equal to an annual  rate of
0.50% of the fund's  average daily net assets for the fiscal year ended December
31,  1999.  The Adviser  paid LMFA a fee equal to an annual rate of 0.05% of the
fund's average daily net assets.

DISTRIBUTOR OF THE FUND'S SHARES:

Legg  Mason  Wood  Walker,  Incorporated,  ("Legg  Mason"),  100  Light  Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 21202, distributes the fund's shares. The fund has adopted a
plan  under Rule 12b-1 that  allows it to pay  distribution  and/or  shareholder
service  fees  for  the  sale  of  its  shares  and  for  services  provided  to
shareholders  not to exceed an annual rate of 0.20% of the fund's  average daily
net assets. However, Legg Mason has agreed that it will waive 0.10% of the 12b-1
service fee indefinitely. The fees are calculated daily and paid monthly.

Because these fees are paid out of the fund's assets on an ongoing  basis,  over
time these fees will increase the cost of your  investment and may cost you more
than paying other types of sales charges.

Legg Mason may enter into  agreements  with other  brokers to sell shares of the
fund.  Legg  Mason  pays  these  brokers  up to 90% of the  service  fee that it
receives from the fund for those sales.

The Adviser,  LMFA and Legg Mason are wholly owned  subsidiaries  of Legg Mason,
Inc., a financial services holding company.

<PAGE>

[icon] H O W  T O  I N V E S T

To open an account,  contact a Legg Mason  Financial  Advisor,  Legg Mason Funds
Investor  Services  ("FIS") or another entity that has entered into an agreement
with Legg Mason to sell shares of the fund.  The minimum  initial  investment is
$1,000 and the minimum for each purchase of additional shares is $100.

Certain  investment  methods  may  be  subject  to  lower  minimum  initial  and
additional  investments.  Arrangements  may also be made with some employers and
financial  institutions for regular automatic monthly investments of $50 or more
in shares of the fund.  Contact your financial adviser or FIS with any questions
regarding your investment options.

ONCE YOUR ACCOUNT IS OPEN, YOU MAY USE THE FOLLOWING  METHODS TO PURCHASE SHARES
OF THE FUND:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Person           Give your financial adviser a check for $100 or more payable
                    to the fund.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mail                Mail your  check,  payable to the fund,  for $100 or more to
                    your  financial  adviser  or to Legg  Mason  Funds  Investor
                    Services at P.O. Box 17023, Baltimore, MD 21297-0356.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone or Wire   Call your  financial  adviser  or FIS at  1-800-822-5544  to
                    transfer  available cash balances in your brokerage  account
                    or to transfer money from your bank directly. Wire transfers
                    may be subject to a service charge by your bank.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet or         FIS clients may  purchase  shares of the fund  through  Legg
TeleFund            Mason's  Internet site at  http://www.leggmasonfunds.com  or
                    through a telephone account management service "TeleFund" at
                    1-877-6-LMFUNDS.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Future First        Contact a Legg  Mason  Financial  Adviser  to enroll in Legg
Systematic          Mason's Future First Systematic  Investment Plan. Under this
Investment Plan     plan, you may arrange for automatic  monthly  investments in
                    the fund of $50 or more.  The transfer  agent will  transfer
                    funds  monthly  from your Legg  Mason  account  or from your
                    checking/savings account to purchase shares of the fund.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Automatic           Arrangements  may be made with some  employers and financial
Investments         institutions for regular  automatic  monthly  investments of
                    $50 or more in  shares of the  fund.  You may also  reinvest
                    dividends from certain unit  investment  trusts in shares of
                    the fund.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Investments  made  through  entities  other  than Legg  Mason may be  subject to
transaction fees or other purchase conditions established by those entities. You
should consult their program literature for further information.

    Purchase  orders  received in federal  funds form,  by either your
    Legg Mason  Financial  Advisor or the entity offering the fund, on
    any  day  that  the New  York  Stock  Exchange  is  open,  will be
    processed as follows:

                                   Shares will be purchased  Such shares will
                                   at the net asset value    begin to earn
If the purchase order is           next determined           dividends on the
received                           on
before 12:00 noon, Eastern time    same day                     same day
12:00 noon or after, but before
4:00 p.m., Eastern time            same day                     next day
4:00 p.m. or after, Eastern time   next day                     next day

If you do not make payment in federal  funds,  your order will be processed when
payment is converted into federal funds, which is usually completed in two days,
but may take up to ten days. Most bank wires are federal funds.

<PAGE>

[icon]  H O W  T O  S E L L  Y O U R  S H A R E S

YOU MAY USE ANY OF THE FOLLOWING METHODS TO SELL SHARES OF THE FUND:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone          Call  your  financial  adviser  or FIS at  1-800-822-5544  or
                   another  authorized  entity  offering  the fund  and  request
                   redemption.  Please have the following information ready when
                   you call:  the name of the  fund,  the  number of shares  (or
                   dollar  amount) to be redeemed and your  shareholder  account
                   number.

                   Proceeds  will be  credited  to your  brokerage  account or a
                   check will be sent to you, at your direction, at no charge to
                   you.  Wire  requests will be subject to a fee of $12. Be sure
                   that your financial adviser has your bank account information
                   on file.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Internet or        FIS clients may request a redemption  of fund shares  through
TeleFund           Legg Mason's  Internet site at  http://www.leggmasonfunds.com
                   or through TeleFund at 1-877-6-LMFUNDS.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mail               Send a  letter  to the  fund  requesting  redemption  of your
                   shares.  The letter  should be signed by all of the owners of
                   the  account  and  their   signatures   guaranteed   without
                   qualification.  Redemption  requests  for  shares  valued  at
                   $10,000  or more or when  proceeds  are to be paid to someone
                   other  than the  account  holder  will  require  a  signature
                   guarantee.  You may obtain a  signature  guarantee  from most
                   banks or securities dealers.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Checkwriting       The fund offers a free  checkwriting  service.  You may write
                   checks to  anyone  in  amounts  of $250 or more.  The  fund's
                   transfer  agent  will  redeem  sufficient  shares  from  your
                   account  to  pay  the  checks.  You  will  continue  to  earn
                   dividends  on your  shares  until  the  check  clears  at the
                   transfer  agent.  Please do not use your checks to close your
                   account.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Securities         Legg Mason has special  redemption  procedures  for investors
Purchases at       who wish to purchase  stocks,  bonds or other  securities  at
Legg Mason         Legg Mason.  Once you've placed an order for securities,  and
                   have not indicated any other payment method, fund shares will
                   be redeemed on the  settlement  date for the amount due. Fund
                   shares may also be redeemed  to cover debit  balances in your
                   brokerage account.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The fund will  follow  reasonable  procedures  to  ensure  the  validity  of any
telephone  or  Internet  redemption  request,  such  as  requesting  identifying
information from users or employing  identification  numbers. Unless you specify
that you do not wish to have telephone  redemption  privileges,  you may be held
responsible for any fraudulent telephone order.


Fund  shares  will be sold at the next net asset  value  calculated  after  your
redemption  request  is  received  by your  financial  adviser,  FIS or  another
authorized entity offering the fund.


Redemption  orders will be processed  promptly.  You will generally  receive the
proceeds  within a week.  Normally,  proceeds from  redemption  orders received
before  11:00  a.m.  Eastern  time will be sent that  same day.  Payment  of the
proceeds of  redemptions  of shares  that were  recently  purchased  by check or
acquired through reinvestment of distributions on such shares may be delayed for
up to 10 days from the purchase date in order to allow for the check to clear.

<PAGE>

Additional   documentation  may  be  required  from   corporations,   executors,
partnerships, administrators, trustees or custodians.

Redemptions  made  through  authorized  entities  other  than Legg  Mason may be
subject to transaction fees or other  conditions  established by those entities.
You should consult their program literature for further information.

The fund has reserved the right under certain conditions to redeem its shares in
kind by distributing portfolio securities in payment for redemptions.

<PAGE>

[icon]  A C C O U N T  P O L I C I E S

CALCULATION OF NET ASSET VALUE:

To calculate  the fund's share price,  the fund's assets are valued and totaled,
liabilities  are  subtracted,  and the  resulting  net assets are divided by the
number of shares outstanding.  The fund seeks to maintain a share price of $1.00
per share.  The fund is priced twice a day, as of 12:00 noon,  Eastern Time, and
at the close of regular  trading on the New York Stock  Exchange  (normally 4:00
p.m., Eastern Time), on every day the Exchange is open. The Exchange is normally
closed on all national  holidays  and Good Friday.  Like most other money market
funds, the fund normally values its investments using the amortized cost method.

OTHER:

Fund shares may not be held in, or transferred to, an account with any firm that
does not have an agreement with Legg Mason.

If your account falls below $500, the fund may ask you to increase your balance.
If,  after 60 days,  your  account is still below $500,  the fund may close your
account and send you the proceeds.  The fund will not redeem  accounts that fell
below $500 solely as a result of a reduction in net asset value per share.

The fund reserves the right to:

o   reject any order for shares or suspend  the  offering of shares for a period
    of time,

o   change its minimum investment amounts, and

o   delay sending out redemption  proceeds for up to seven days.  This generally
    applies  only in cases of very large  redemptions  or  excessive  trading or
    during  unusual market  conditions.  The fund may delay  redemptions  beyond
    seven days, or suspend redemptions,  only as permitted by the Securities and
    Exchange Commission.

<PAGE>

[icon]  S E R V I C E S  F O R  I N V E S T O R S

For further information regarding any of the services below, please contact your
financial adviser or other authorized entity offering the fund for sale.

ACCOUNT STATEMENTS:

Legg  Mason or the  entity  through  which  you  invest  will  send you  account
statements monthly unless there has been no activity in the account.  Legg Mason
will send you  statements  quarterly  if you  participate  in the  Future  First
Systematic   Investment  Plan  or  if  you  purchase  shares  through  automatic
investments.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PLAN:

If you are  purchasing or already own shares with a net asset value of $5,000 or
more, you may elect to make  systematic  withdrawals  from the fund. The minimum
amount for each  withdrawal  is $50. You should not purchase  shares of the fund
when you are a participant in the plan.

PREMIER ACCOUNT STATUS:

Legg  Mason  offers a Premier  Asset  Management  Account,  which  allows you to
combine your fund account with a preferred customer VISA Gold debit card, a Legg
Mason  brokerage  account  with  margin  borrowing  availability  and  unlimited
checkwriting with no minimum check amount. Other services include the ability to
automatically  transfer free credit  balances in your brokerage  account to your
fund  account  and the  automatic  redemption  of fund  shares to  offset  debit
balances in your  brokerage  account.  Legg Mason  charges an annual fee for the
Premier   Account,   which  is  currently  $85  for  individuals  and  $100  for
corporations and businesses.

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE:

Fund shares may be  exchanged  for shares of any of the other Legg Mason  funds,
provided  these funds are eligible for sale in your state of residence.  You can
request  an  exchange  in  writing  or by  phone.  Be sure to read  the  current
prospectus for any fund into which you are exchanging.

There is currently no fee for exchanges;  however, you may be subject to a sales
charge when exchanging into a fund that has one. In addition, an exchange of the
fund's  shares  will be  treated  as a sale of the  shares  and any  gain on the
transaction may be subject to tax.

The fund reserves the right to:

o        terminate or limit the exchange  privilege of any shareholder who makes
         more than four exchanges from the fund in one calendar year.

o        terminate  or modify the  exchange  privilege  after 60 days' notice to
         shareholders.

<PAGE>

[icon]  D I S T R I B U T I O N S  A N D  T A X E S



The fund declares any dividends  from its net  investment  income daily and pays
them monthly.  Your  dividends  will be  automatically  reinvested in additional
shares of the fund,  unless you elect to receive  them in cash.  To change  your
election,  you must notify the fund at least 10 days before the next dividend is
to be paid.  The fund  does not  expect to  realize  any  capital  gain or loss;
however, if the fund realizes any net short-term capital gains, it will pay them
at least once every twelve months.  If the postal or other  delivery  service is
unable to deliver  your  check,  your  dividend  option  will  automatically  be
converted to having all dividends  reinvested  in fund shares.  No interest will
accrue on amounts represented by uncashed dividend or redemption checks. You may
request that your dividends be reinvested in shares of another Legg Mason fund.


Any  dividends  will be  "exempt-interest"  dividends  if,  at the close of each
quarter  of the  fund's  taxable  year,  at least  50% of the value of its total
assets consists of certain  obligations the interest on which is excludable from
gross income for federal  income tax  purposes.  Exempt-interest  dividends  are
excludable  from a  shareholder's  gross  income;  however,  the amount of those
dividends must be reported on the recipient's federal income tax return.

Fund  distributions  of any net  short-term  capital  gains are  taxable to most
investors,  whether  received in cash or reinvested in additional  shares of the
fund. Generally, those distributions will be taxable as ordinary income.

The sale or  exchange of fund shares will not result in any gain or loss for the
shareholder to the extent the fund maintains a stable share price of $1.00.

To a limited extent, the fund may invest in securities that generate income that
is not exempt from federal or state income tax.  Dividends derived from interest
on municipal  obligations  may not be exempt from income taxation under state or
local law. A tax statement will be sent to each investor at the end of each year
detailing the tax status of the investor's distributions.

The fund will withhold 31% of all taxable  dividends  payable to individuals and
certain  other  non-corporate  shareholders  who do not  provide the fund with a
valid  taxpayer  identification  number or who are  otherwise  subject to backup
withholding.

Because each  investor's  tax  situation is different,  please  consult your tax
adviser about federal, state and local tax considerations.

<PAGE>

[icon]  F I N A N C I A L  H I G H L I G H T S

The financial  highlights  table is intended to help you  understand  the fund's
financial  performance  for the past 5 years.  Total return  represents the rate
that an  investor  would  have  earned (or lost) on an  investment  in the fund,
assuming  reinvestment of all dividends and distributions.  This information has
been audited by the fund's independent accountants,  PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
whose report,  along with the fund's  financial  statements,  is incorporated by
reference into the Statement of Additional  Information  (see back cover) and is
included in the annual  report.  The annual report is available  upon request by
calling toll-free 1-800-822-5544.

<TABLE>
<S>                                    <C>         <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>
Year ended December 31,                1999        1998           1997          1996          1995
- -----------------------                ----        ----           ----          ----          ----

The following information reflects financial results for a single share of the fund:

Net asset value,
beginning of year:                     $1.00       $1.00          $1.00         $1.00         $1.00
                                       -----       -----          -----         -----         -----
Income from investment operations:

Net investment income                 .0252        .0271          .0292         .0282         .0313

Distributions:

Dividends from net investment
income:                              (.0252)       .0271)        (.0292)       (.0282)       (.0313)
                                     -------      -------        -------       -------       -------

Net asset value, end of year.         $1.00         $1.00         $1.00         $1.00         $1.00
                                      =====         =====         =====         =====         =====


Total return:                         2.56%         2.75%         2.95%         2.85%         3.17%
Ratios/Supplemental Data:
Ratio of total expenses to average
net assets(a):                         .71%          .72%          .73%          .64%          .66%
Ratio of net expenses to average
net assets(b):                         .70%          .71%          .72%          .64%          .65%
Ratio of net investment income to
average net assets:                   2.52%         2.71%         2.92%         2.82%         3.14%
Net assets, end of year
(in thousands):                    $374,853      $330,134      $307,371      $278,492      $224,656

</TABLE>

(a) This ratio reflects total expenses before compensating balance credits.

(b) This ratio reflects expenses net of compensating balance credits.

<PAGE>

Legg Mason
Tax Exempt Trust, Inc.

The following  additional  information  about the fund is available upon request
and without charge:

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI) - The SAI is filed with the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  (SEC)  and is  incorporated  by  reference  into  (is
considered part of) this prospectus.  The SAI provides  additional details about
the fund and its policies.

ANNUAL  AND  SEMI-ANNUAL  REPORTS -  Additional  information  about  the  fund's
investments  is  available  in the  fund's  annual  and  semi-annual  reports to
shareholders.  In the fund's  annual  report,  you will find a discussion of the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
fund's performance during its last fiscal year.

To  request  the  SAI  or  any  reports  to  shareholders,  or  to  obtain  more
information:

o     call toll-free 1-800-822-5544

o     visit us on the Internet via http://www.leggmasonfunds.com
                                   -----------------------------

o     write to us at:            Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated
                                 100 Light Street, P.O. Box 1476
                                 Baltimore, Maryland 21203-1476

Information about the fund, including the SAI, can be reviewed and copied at the
SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington,  D.C. Information on the operation of
the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at  1-202-942-8090.
Reports and other information about the fund are available on the EDGAR database
on the SEC's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Investors may also obtain this
information,  after  paying a  duplicating  fee,  by  electronic  request at the
following  e-mail  address:  [email protected]  or by writing the SEC's  Public
Reference Section, Washington, D.C. 20549-0102.


LMF-015                                              SEC file number: 811-3526




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