<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000717341
<NAME> THE DREYFUS/LAUREL TAX-FREE MUNICIPAL FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> DREYFUS PREMIER LIMITED TERM MASS MUNI BOND FUND - CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 109500
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 109220
<RECEIVABLES> 2248
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 111468
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1142
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 125
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1267
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 111079
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1058
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1250
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (597)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (281)
<NET-ASSETS> 12581
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5096
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 543
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4553
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (524)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (467)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 3562
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (586)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 98
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (318)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 27
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 23022
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (73)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 500
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 543
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 13541
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 12.03
<PER-SHARE-NII> .51
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.14)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.51)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.89
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .008
</TABLE>
