<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FRANKLIN
TAX-FREE TRUST AUGUST 31, 2000 SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY
BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 25
<NAME> FRANKLIN FEDERAL INTERMEDIATE-TERM TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> FEB-28-2001
<PERIOD-END> AUG-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 164,906,796
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 164,214,685
<RECEIVABLES> 2,530,627
<ASSETS-OTHER> 17,554
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 166,762,866
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 863,887
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 863,887
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 169,052,106
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 15,390,061
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 16,240,075
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 193,660
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (2,654,676)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (692,111)
<NET-ASSETS> 165,898,979
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,696,508
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (632,227)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,064,281
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (209,659)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 4,254,621
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8,109,243
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (4,039,569)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,848,920
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3,947,395)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 248,461
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (5,008,224)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 168,948
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (2,445,017)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (470,500)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (632,227)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 164,375,950
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.520
<PER-SHARE-NII> .260<F1>
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .260
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.260)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.780
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .760<F2>
<FN>
<F1>BASED ON AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING.
<F2>ANNUALIZED
</FN>
</TABLE>
