<PAGE> PAGE 1
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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 10
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<PAGE> PAGE 11
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<PAGE> PAGE 12
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<PAGE> PAGE 13
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SIGNATURE PAUL BUCAVALAS
TITLE MANGING DIRECTOR
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Trustees of Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund:
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements
of Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund for the year ended July 31,
1999, we considered its internal control, including control
activities for safeguarding securities, in order to determine our
auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on
the financial statements and to comply with the requirements of
Form N-SAR, not to provide assurance on internal control.
The management of Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund is responsible
for establishing and maintaining internal control. In fulfilling
this responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are
required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls. Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit
pertain to the entity's objective of preparing financial
statements for external purposes that are fairly presented in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Those
controls include the safeguarding of assets against unauthorized
acquisition, use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal controls, errors or
fraud may occur and may not be detected. Also, projection of any
evaluation of internal control to future periods is subject to
the risk that it may become inadequate because of changes in
conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and operation
may deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily
disclose all matters in internal control that might be material
weaknesses under standards established by the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants. A material weakness is a
condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the
internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low
level the risk that misstatements caused by errors or fraud in
amounts that would be material in relation to the financial
statements being audited may occur and not be detected within a
timely period by employees in the normal course of performing
their assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving
internal control and its operation, including controls for
safeguarding securities, that we consider to be material
weaknesses as defined above as of July 31, 1999.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of
management and the Board of Trustees and the Securities and
Exchange Commission and is not intended to be and should not be
used by anyone other than these specified parties.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
September 10, 1999
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,839,688,186
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,915,638,542
<RECEIVABLES> 34,222,086
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,053,891
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (96,699,849)
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<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 128,560,888
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 21,878,135
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 106,682,753
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,802,993
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (66,831,127)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 41,654,619
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (58,872,974)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
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<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (10,805,263)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2,079,752
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (77,849,712)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 451,768
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (98,502,842)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,757,953
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 22,061,112
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,057,449,982
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.61
<PER-SHARE-NII> .81
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.48)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.81)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.13
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .87
[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>
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,839,688,186
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,915,638,542
<RECEIVABLES> 34,222,086
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,949,860,628
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,245,450
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 17,808,441
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,053,891
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,948,260,099
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 52,532,226
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 72,008,837
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 710,692
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (96,699,849)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 75,535,795
<NET-ASSETS> 1,927,806,737
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 128,560,888
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 21,878,135
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 106,682,753
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,802,993
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (66,831,127)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 41,654,619
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (46,390,286)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 8,229,439
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (29,142,932)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,436,882
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (77,849,712)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 451,768
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (98,502,842)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,757,953
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 22,061,112
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 925,873,965
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.62
<PER-SHARE-NII> .74
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.47)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.74)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.15
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.37
[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>
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,839,688,186
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,915,638,542
<RECEIVABLES> 34,222,086
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,949,860,628
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,245,450
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 17,808,441
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,053,891
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,948,260,099
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 193,802
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 710,692
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (96,699,849)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 75,535,795
<NET-ASSETS> 1,927,806,737
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 128,560,888
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 21,878,135
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 106,682,753
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,802,993
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (66,831,127)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 41,654,619
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (47,801)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 325,358
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (133,152)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,596
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (77,849,712)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 451,768
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (98,502,842)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,757,953
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 22,061,112
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,958,794
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.73
<PER-SHARE-NII> .36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.60)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.36)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.13
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .83
[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>
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> ANNUAL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 1,839,688,186
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 1,915,638,542
<RECEIVABLES> 34,222,086
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,949,860,628
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,245,450
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 17,808,441
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 22,053,891
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,948,260,099
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,675,738
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1,237,641
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 710,692
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (96,699,849)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 75,535,795
<NET-ASSETS> 1,927,806,737
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 128,560,888
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 21,878,135
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 106,682,753
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,802,993
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (66,831,127)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 41,654,619
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (1,163,341)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 787,333
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (397,318)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 48,082
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (77,849,712)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 451,768
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (98,502,842)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,757,953
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 22,061,112
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 22,120,457
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.61
<PER-SHARE-NII> .77
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.47)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.77)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.14
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.17
[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>
Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 564,935,556
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 584,929,254
<RECEIVABLES> 10,570,422
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 595,499,676
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 11,580,875
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10,285,707
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 21,866,582
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 560,918,438
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 16,567,995
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 14,951,431
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (356,689)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (7,015,181)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 20,086,526
<NET-ASSETS> 573,633,094
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 32,964,997
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 5,260,747
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 27,704,250
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (708,489)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (21,829,346)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,166,415
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (11,291,599)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1,869,573)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 3,977,221
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2,863,444)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 502,787
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,229,176
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (316,312)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,674,558)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,464,735
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5,425,065
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 242,413,567
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 15.40
<PER-SHARE-NII> .72
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.56)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.72)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.12)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.72
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .94
[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>
Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 564,935,556
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 584,929,254
<RECEIVABLES> 10,570,422
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 595,499,676
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 11,580,000
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10,285,707
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 21,866,582
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 560,918,438
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 22,250,957
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 21,806,018
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (356,689)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (7,015,181)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 20,086,526
<NET-ASSETS> 573,633,094
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 32,964,997
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 5,260,747
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 27,704,250
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (708,489)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (21,829,346)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,166,415
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (16,324,557)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (2,780,386)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,994,939
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (5,322,327)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 772,327
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,229,176
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (316,312)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,674,558)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,464,735
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5,425,065
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 348,363,436
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 15.42
<PER-SHARE-NII> .72
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.56)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.72)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.12)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .90
[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>
Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 564,935,556
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 584,929,254
<RECEIVABLES> 10,570,422
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 595,499,676
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 11,580,000
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10,285,707
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 21,866,582
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 560,918,438
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 67
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (356,689)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (7,015,181)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 20,086,526
<NET-ASSETS> 573,633,094
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 32,964,997
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 5,260,747
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 27,704,250
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (708,489)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (21,829,346)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,166,415
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 67
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,229,176
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (316,312)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,674,558)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,464,735
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5,425,065
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 997
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 14.83
<PER-SHARE-NII> .01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.11)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.01)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.72
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .03
[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>
Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-1999
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 564,935,556
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 584,929,254
<RECEIVABLES> 10,570,422
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 595,499,676
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 11,580,000
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 10,285,707
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 21,866,582
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 560,918,438
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 126,454
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 119,178
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (356,689)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (7,015,181)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 20,086,526
<NET-ASSETS> 573,633,094
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 32,964,997
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 5,260,747
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 27,704,250
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (708,489)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (21,829,346)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 5,166,415
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (91,950)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1,869,573)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 52,454
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (49,771)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 4,593
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,229,176
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (316,312)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (1,674,558)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 3,464,735
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5,425,065
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 2,137,176
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 15.39
<PER-SHARE-NII> .66
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.51)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.66)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.12)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 14.76
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.24
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Trustees of Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund:
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements
of Putnam Tax-Free Insured Fund for the year ended July 31, 1999,
we considered its internal control, including control activities
for safeguarding securities, in order to determine our auditing
procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the
financial statements and to comply with the requirements of Form
N-SAR, not to provide assurance on internal control.
The management of Putnam Tax Free Insured Fund is responsible for
establishing and maintaining internal control. In fulfilling
this responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are
required to assess the expected benefits and related costs of
controls. Generally, controls that are relevant to an audit
pertain to the entity's objective of preparing financial
statements for external purposes that are fairly presented in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Those
controls include the safeguarding of assets against unauthorized
acquisition, use or disposition.
Because of inherent limitations in internal controls, errors or
fraud may occur and may not be detected. Also, projection of any
evaluation of internal control to future periods is subject to
the risk that it may become inadequate because of changes in
conditions or that the effectiveness of the design and operation
may deteriorate.
Our consideration of internal control would not necessarily
disclose all matters in internal control that might be material
weaknesses under standards established by the American Institute
of Certified Public Accountants. A material weakness is a
condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the
internal control components does not reduce to a relatively low
level the risk that misstatements caused by errors or fraud in
amounts that would be material in relation to the financial
statements being audited may occur and not be detected within a
timely period by employees in the normal course of performing
their assigned functions. However, we noted no matters involving
internal control and its operation, including controls for
safeguarding securities, that we consider to be material
weaknesses as defined above as of July 31, 1999.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of
management and the Board of Trustees and the Securities and
Exchange Commission and is not intended to be and should not be
used by anyone other than these specified parties.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
September 13, 1999
