PUTNAM TAX FREE INCOME TRUST /MA/
NSAR-A, 1996-03-29
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 01/31/96
000 C000000 0000771951
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 PUTNAM TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
001 B000000 811-4345
001 C000000 6712921000
002 A000000 ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000  2
007 C010100  1
007 C020100 TAX-FREE HIGH YIELD
007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 TAX-FREE INSURED
007 C030200 N
007 C010300  3
007 C010400  4
007 C010500  5
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
020 A000001 SCOTT BALDWIN
020 B000001 31-9581870
020 C000001     10
020 A000002 PAINE WEBBER INC.
020 B000002 13-2638166
020 C000002      3
020 A000003 RAND FINANCIAL SERVICES
020 B000003 36-3849442
020 C000003      2
020 A000004 SALOMON BROTHERS
020 B000004 13-3082694
020 C000004      1
020 C000005      0
020 C000006      0
020 C000007      0
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
020 C000008      0
020 C000009      0
020 C000010      0
021  000000       16
022 A000001 LEHAMAN BROTHERS
022 B000001 13-2518466
022 C000001    131267
022 D000001    138890
022 A000002 WILLIAM SIMON
022 B000002 22-3017217
022 C000002    132520
022 D000002    119570
022 A000003 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER
022 B000003 13-5674085
022 C000003    121919
022 D000003    119627
022 A000004 GOLDMAN SACHS
022 B000004 13-5108880
022 C000004     70896
022 D000004     49795
022 A000005 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000005 22-2347336
022 C000005     73180
022 D000005     43451
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY
022 B000006 13-2655998
022 C000006     74196
022 D000006     37769
022 A000007 SMITH BARNEY HARRIS UPHAM
022 B000007 13-1912900
022 C000007     26020
022 D000007     85600
022 A000008 MORGAN JP SECURITIES
022 B000008 13-3224016
022 C000008     31117
022 D000008     21933
022 A000009 BEAR STEARNS
022 B000009 13-4946705
022 C000009     26975
022 D000009     24569
022 A000010 EVEREN SECURITIES
022 C000010     17899
022 D000010     17663
023 C000000     861511
023 D000000     748039
077 A000000 N
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100   0.0
062 C000100   0.0
062 D000100   0.0
062 E000100   0.0
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
062 F000100   0.0
062 G000100   0.0
062 H000100   0.0
062 I000100   0.0
062 J000100   0.0
062 K000100   0.0
062 L000100   0.0
062 M000100   0.0
062 N000100   0.0
062 O000100 100.1
062 P000100   0.0
062 Q000100   0.0
062 R000100   0.0
066 A000100 N
067  000100 N
068 A000100 N
068 B000100 N
069  000100 N
071 A000100    740394
071 B000100    716160
071 C000100   1875068
071 D000100   38
072 A000100  6
074 N000100  2104362
074 T000100  2032412
075 A000100        0
075 B000100  1958698
028 A010200      5783
028 A020200      1394
028 A030200         0
028 A040200      8169
028 B010200      4394
028 B020200      1479
028 B030200         0
028 B040200      6908
028 C010200      4901
028 C020200      1375
028 C030200         0
028 C040200      7827
028 D010200      5086
028 D020200      1313
028 D030200         0
028 D040200      6504
028 E010200      3632
028 E020200      1452
028 E030200         0
028 E040200      6547
028 F010200     10103
028 F020200      1413
028 F030200         0
028 F040200      8957
<PAGE>      PAGE  4
028 G010200     33899
028 G020200      8426
028 G030200         0
028 G040200     44912
028 H000200     33899
029  000200 Y
030 A000200    184
030 B000200  4.75
030 C000200  0.00
031 A000200     14
031 B000200      0
032  000200    170
033  000200      0
034  000200 Y
035  000200    345
036 A000200 Y
036 B000200      0
045  000200 Y
046  000200 N
047  000200 Y
048  000200  0.000
048 A010200   500000
048 A020200 0.600
048 B010200   500000
048 B020200 0.500
048 C010200   500000
048 C020200 0.450
048 D010200        0
048 D020200 0.000
048 E010200        0
048 E020200 0.000
048 F010200        0
048 F020200 0.000
048 G010200        0
048 G020200 0.000
048 H010200        0
048 H020200 0.000
048 I010200        0
048 I020200 0.000
048 J010200        0
048 J020200 0.000
048 K010200  1500000
048 K020200 0.400
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200   0.0
062 C000200   0.0
062 D000200   0.0
062 E000200   0.0
062 F000200   0.0
062 G000200   0.0
062 H000200   0.0
<PAGE>      PAGE  5
062 I000200   0.0
062 J000200   0.0
062 K000200   0.0
062 L000200   0.0
062 M000200   0.0
062 N000200   0.0
062 O000200 101.4
062 P000200   0.0
062 Q000200   0.0
062 R000200   0.0
066 A000200 N
067  000200 N
068 A000200 N
068 B000200 N
069  000200 N
071 A000200    143886
071 B000200    145488
071 C000200    560598
071 D000200   44
072 A000200  6
072 B000200    17586
072 C000200        0
072 D000200        0
072 E000200        0
072 F000200     1686
072 G000200        6
072 H000200        0
072 I000200      125
072 J000200     -113
072 K000200       18
072 L000200       57
072 M000200       11
072 N000200        9
072 O000200        0
072 P000200        0
072 Q000200        0
072 R000200       23
072 S000200        7
072 T000200     1824
072 U000200        0
072 V000200        0
072 W000200        7
072 X000200     3660
074 A000200        0
074 B000200        0
074 C000200        0
074 D000200   593943
074 E000200        0
074 F000200        0
074 G000200        0
074 H000200        0
<PAGE>      PAGE  6
074 I000200        0
074 J000200     2947
074 K000200        0
074 L000200     8817
074 M000200        0
074 N000200   605707
074 O000200    16885
074 P000200      625
074 Q000200        0
074 R010200        0
074 R020200        0
074 R030200        0
074 R040200     2257
074 S000200        0
074 T000200   585940
074 U010200    12738
074 U020200    24849
074 V010200    15.57
074 V020200    15.59
074 W000200   0.0000
074 X000200    15716
074 Y000200        0
075 A000200        0
075 B000200   570347
SIGNATURE   PAUL BUCAVALAS                               
TITLE       VICE PRESIDENT      
 

WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED 
FROM AND Putnam Tax Free Insured Fund Class A IS QUALIFIED IN 
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>	JUL-31-95
<PERIOD-END>	JAN-31-96
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST >  543,383,857	    
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>	593,943,428
<RECEIVABLES>	11,763,861
<ASSETS-OTHER>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>	0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>	605,707,289
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>	0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>	19,767,471
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>	19,767,471
<SENIOR-EQUITY>	0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>	539,047,531
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>	12,737,993
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>	12,400,211
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>	(573,045)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>	(3,094,239)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>	50,559,571
<NET-ASSETS>	585,939,818
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>	0
<INTEREST-INCOME>	17,585,847
<OTHER-INCOME>	0
<EXPENSES-NET>	3,659,713
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>	13,926,134
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>	4,301,156
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>	22,573,351
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>	40,800,641
<EQUALIZATION>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>	(5,055,010)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>	0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>	819,633
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>	(668,512)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>	186,661
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>	24,239,295
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>	0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>	0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>	(524,841)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>	(7,395,395)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>	1,685,580
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>	0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>	3,801,646
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>	189,072,709
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>	14.86
<PER-SHARE-NII>	.40
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>	.72
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>	0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>	(.41)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>	0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>	15.57
<EXPENSE-RATIO>	.45
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>	0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>	0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED 
FROM AND Putnam Tax Free Insured Fund Class B IS QUALIFIED 
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>	JUL-31-95
<PERIOD-END>	JAN-31-96
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST >   543,383,857	    
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>	593,943,428
<RECEIVABLES>	11,763,861
<ASSETS-OTHER>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>	0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>	605,707,289
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>	0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>	19,767,471
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>	19,767,471
<SENIOR-EQUITY>	0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>	539,047,531
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>	24,849,302
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>	25,380,060
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>	(573,045)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>	(3,094,239)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>	50,559,571
<NET-ASSETS>	585,939,818
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>	0
<INTEREST-INCOME>	17,585,847
<OTHER-INCOME>	0
<EXPENSES-NET>	3,659,713
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>	13,926,134
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>	4,301,156
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>	22,573,351
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>	40,800,641
<EQUALIZATION>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>	(8,915,543)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>	0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>	1,390,681
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>	(2,289,971)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>	368,532
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>	24,239,295
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>	0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>	0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>	(524,841)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>	(7,395,395)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>	1,685,580
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>	0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>	3,801,646
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>	381,121,327
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>	14.87
<PER-SHARE-NII>	.35
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>	.73
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>	0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>	(.36)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>	0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>	15.59
<EXPENSE-RATIO>	.78
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>	0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>	0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED 
FROM AND Putnam Tax Free Insured Fund Class M IS QUALIFIED IN 
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>	JUL-31-95
<PERIOD-END>	JAN-31-96
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST > 543,383,857	    
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>	593,943,428
<RECEIVABLES>	11,763,861
<ASSETS-OTHER>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>	0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>	605,707,289
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>	0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>	19,767,471
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>	19,767,471
<SENIOR-EQUITY>	0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>	539,047,531
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>	21,151
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>	1,163
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>	(573,045)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>	(3,094,239)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>	50,559,571
<NET-ASSETS>	585,939,818
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>	0
<INTEREST-INCOME>	17,585,847
<OTHER-INCOME>	0
<EXPENSES-NET>	3,659,713
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>	13,926,134
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>	4,301,156
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>	22,573,351
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>	40,800,641
<EQUALIZATION>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>	(3,785)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>	0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>	19,774
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>	(-)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>	214
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>	24,239,295
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>	0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>	0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>	(524,841)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>	(7,395,395)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>	1,685,580
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>	0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>	3,801,646
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>	153,137
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>	14.86
<PER-SHARE-NII>	.37
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>	.71
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>	0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>	(.38)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>	0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>	15.56
<EXPENSE-RATIO>	.58
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>	0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>	0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED 
FROM Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund Class A AND IS QUALIFIED 
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>	JUL-31-95
<PERIOD-END>	JAN-31-96
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST >  1,938,258,795	    
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>	2,035,128,881
<RECEIVABLES>	69,149,878
<ASSETS-OTHER>	82,850
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>	0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>	2,104,361,609
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>	60,064,926
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>	11,884,767
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>	71,949,693
<SENIOR-EQUITY>	0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>	1,976,028,848
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>	36,478,032
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>	33,600,985
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>	(3,408,362)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>	(37,078,656)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>	96,870,086
<NET-ASSETS>	2,032,411,916
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>	0
<INTEREST-INCOME>	0
<OTHER-INCOME>	69,126,677
<EXPENSES-NET>	12,783,219
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>	56,343,458
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>	21,182,522
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>	58,164,204
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>	135,690,184
<EQUALIZATION>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>	(15,576,405)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>	0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>	4,478,634
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>	(2,176,060)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>	574,473
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>	118,615,637
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>	0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>	0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>	(3,337,732)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>	58,261,178
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>	5,313,413
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>	0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>	13,094,074
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>	498,388,450
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>	14.14
<PER-SHARE-NII>	.45
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>	.58
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>	0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>	(.45)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>	0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>	14.72
<EXPENSE-RATIO>	.42
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>	0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>	0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED 
FROM Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund Class B AND IS QUALIFIED 
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>	JUL-31-95
<PERIOD-END>	JAN-31-96
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST >  1,938,258,795	    
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>	2,035,128,881
<RECEIVABLES>	69,149,878
<ASSETS-OTHER>	82,850
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>	0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>	2,104,361,609
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>	60,064,926
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>	11,884,767
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>	71,949,693
<SENIOR-EQUITY>	0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>	1,976,028,848
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>	101,267,749
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>	101,591,475
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>	(3,408,362)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>	(37,078,656)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>	96,870,086
<NET-ASSETS>	2,032,411,916
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>	0
<INTEREST-INCOME>	0
<OTHER-INCOME>	69,126,677
<EXPENSES-NET>	12,783,219
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>	56,343,458
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>	21,182,522
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>	58,164,204
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>	135,690,184
<EQUALIZATION>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>	(40,728,955)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>	0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>	11,224,202
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>	(12,874,055)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>	1,326,127
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>	118,615,637
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>	0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>	0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>	(3,337,732)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>	58,261,178
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>	5,313,413
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>	0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>	13,094,074
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>	1,456,592,833
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>	14.14
<PER-SHARE-NII>	.40
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>	.58
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>	0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>	(.40)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>	0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>	14.72
<EXPENSE-RATIO>	.75
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>	0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>	0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED 
FROM Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund Class M AND IS QUALIFIED 
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
       
<S>                                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                         SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>	JUL-31-95
<PERIOD-END>	JAN-31-96
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST >  1,938,258,795	    
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>	2,035,128,881
<RECEIVABLES>	69,149,878
<ASSETS-OTHER>	82,850
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>	0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>	2,104,361,609
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>	60,064,926
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>	0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>	11,884,767
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>	71,949,693
<SENIOR-EQUITY>	0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>	1,976,028,848
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>	337,216
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>	164,963
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>	(3,408,362)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>	0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>	(37,078,656)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>	96,870,086
<NET-ASSETS>	2,032,411,916
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>	0
<INTEREST-INCOME>	0
<OTHER-INCOME>	69,126,677
<EXPENSES-NET>	12,783,219
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>	56,343,458
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>	21,182,522
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>	58,164,204
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>	135,690,184
<EQUALIZATION>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>	(108,728)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>	0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>	0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>	191,534
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>	(24,811)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>	5,530
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>	118,615,637
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>	0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>	0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>	(3,337,732)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>	58,261,178
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>	5,313,413
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>	0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>	13,094,074
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>	3,716,962
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>	14.13
<PER-SHARE-NII>	.42
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>	.58
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>	0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>	(.42)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>	0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>	14.71
<EXPENSE-RATIO>	.57
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>	0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>	0
        

</TABLE>


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