<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 03/31/97
000 C000000 0000784975
000 D000000 Y
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 THE EVERGREEN TAX FREE TRUST
001 B000000 811-4510
001 C000000 6172103200
002 A000000 200 BERKELEY STREET
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02116
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 2
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 EVERGREEN NEW JERSEY TAX FREE INCOME FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 EVERGREEN PENN. TAX FREE MONEY MARKET FUND
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
010 A00AA01 EVERGREEN KEYSTONE ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP.
010 B00AA01 801-46522
010 C01AA01 BOSTON
010 C02AA01 MA
010 C03AA01 02116
010 A00AA02 THE BISYS GROUP INC.
010 C01AA02 COLUMBUS
010 C02AA02 OH
010 C03AA02 43219
010 C04AA02 3035
011 A00AA01 EVERGREEN KEYSTONE DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-46906
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02116
<PAGE> PAGE 2
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 78
019 C00AA00 EVERGREENS
020 A000001 INTERSTATE JOHNSON LANE CORP
020 C000001 1
020 C000002 0
020 C000003 0
020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 1
022 A000001 FEDERATED SECURITIES CORP
022 B000001 25-1203925
022 C000001 9087
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 DREYFUS
022 C000002 316
022 D000002 0
022 C000003 0
022 D000003 0
022 C000004 0
022 D000004 0
022 C000005 0
022 D000005 0
022 C000006 0
022 D000006 0
022 C000007 0
022 D000007 0
022 C000008 0
022 D000008 0
022 C000009 0
022 D000009 0
022 C000010 0
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 9403
023 D000000 0
024 00AA00 N
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 N
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 3
027 000000 Y
049 00AA00 N
050 00AA00 N
051 00AA00 N
052 00AA00 N
053 A00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 Y
054 H00AA00 N
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 N
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
066 A00AA00 N
067 00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069 00AA00 N
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 VIGILANT INSURANCE CO.
080 C00AA00 24625
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 36
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
028 A010100 736
028 A020100 97
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 261
028 B010100 992
028 B020100 95
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 582
028 C010100 952
028 C020100 90
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 338
028 D010100 858
028 D020100 100
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 1462
028 E010100 2542
028 E020100 96
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 438
028 F010100 1094
028 F020100 96
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 566
028 G010100 7174
028 G020100 574
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 3647
028 H000100 1664
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 50
030 B000100 4.75
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 6
031 B000100 0
032 000100 44
033 000100 0
034 000100 Y
035 000100 0
036 A000100 N
036 B000100 0
037 000100 N
038 000100 0
039 000100 N
040 000100 Y
041 000100 Y
042 A000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 0
042 D000100 100
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 73
044 000100 0
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.000
048 A010100 500000
048 A020100 0.500
048 B010100 500000
048 B020100 0.450
048 C010100 500000
048 C020100 0.400
048 D010100 0
048 D020100 0.000
048 E010100 0
048 E020100 0.000
048 F010100 0
048 F020100 0.000
048 G010100 0
048 G020100 0.000
048 H010100 0
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 1500000
048 K020100 0.350
055 A000100 N
055 B000100 N
056 000100 Y
057 000100 N
058 A000100 N
059 000100 Y
060 A000100 N
060 B000100 N
061 000100 1000
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 4.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
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 96.7
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 -0.7
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 0
063 B000100 15.1
064 A000100 Y
064 B000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 N
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 Y
070 K020100 Y
070 L010100 N
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 N
070 R020100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
071 A000100 12549
071 B000100 6464
071 C000100 44200
071 D000100 15
072 A000100 7
072 B000100 1473
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 135
072 G000100 11
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 25
072 J000100 34
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 4
072 M000100 2
072 N000100 3
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 15
072 S000100 1
072 T000100 73
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 8
072 X000100 311
072 Y000100 173
072 Z000100 1335
072AA000100 0
072BB000100 0
072CC010100 0
072CC020100 303
072DD010100 952
072DD020100 389
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.0000
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 0
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 1941
074 D000100 47127
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 874
074 M000100 9
074 N000100 49951
074 O000100 1071
074 P000100 0
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 163
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 48717
074 U010100 879
074 U020100 3657
074 V010100 10.74
074 V020100 10.74
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 891
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 46521
076 000100 0.00
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 100.2
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 -0.2
062 M000200 0.0
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
071 A000200 0
071 B000200 0
071 C000200 0
071 D000200 0
072 A000200 6
074 N000200 71723
074 T000200 70515
075 A000200 73892
075 B000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
SIGNATURE J. KEVIN KENELY
TITLE V.P. FUND ADMIN
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 101
<NAME> EVERGREEN NEW JERSEY TAX FREE INCOME FUND CLASS A
<PERIOD-TYPE> 7-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 48,328,452
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 49,067,831
<RECEIVABLES> 874,261
<ASSETS-OTHER> 8,767
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 49,950,859
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,070,618
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 163,132
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,233,750
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 30,786,946
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,926,484
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 3,010,604
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 6,659
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (263,837)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 904,292
<NET-ASSETS> 31,434,060
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,030,846
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (82,946)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 947,900
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 132,546
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (158,330)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 922,116
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (951,954)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 152,942
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (287,177)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 50,115
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (943,068)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 10,620
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (94,641)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (82,946)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 32,519,827
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.75
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.31
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.31)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.44
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 102
<NAME> EVERGREEN NEW JERSEY TAX FREE INCOME FUND CLASS B
<PERIOD-TYPE> 7-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 48,328,452
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 49,067,831
<RECEIVABLES> 874,261
<ASSETS-OTHER> 8,767
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 49,950,859
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,070,618
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 163,132
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,233,750
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 7,919,961
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 730,515
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 251,931
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 913
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 14,344
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (88,507)
<NET-ASSETS> 7,846,711
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 140,738
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (35,355)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 105,383
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 15,977
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (89,856)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 31,504
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (106,102)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 488,639
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (17,415)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 7,360
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,137,354
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 1,827
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (12,902)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (35,355)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.75
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.26)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.36
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM ACCOUNTING
RECORDS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH ACCOUNTING
RECORDS.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 103
<NAME> EVERGREEN NEW JERSEY TAX FREE INCOME FUND CLASS C
<PERIOD-TYPE> 7-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> SEP-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 48,328,452
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 49,067,831
<RECEIVABLES> 874,261
<ASSETS-OTHER> 8,767
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 49,950,859
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,070,618
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 163,132
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,233,750
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 9,475,902
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 878,516
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 843,932
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,953
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 34,889
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (76,406)
<NET-ASSETS> 9,436,338
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 301,314
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (19,863)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 281,451
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 38,056
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (54,530)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 264,977
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (282,668)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 70,718
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (40,043)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,909
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 360,452
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 3,068
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (27,653)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (19,863)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.75
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.32
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.32)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.74
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.36
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
The Trustees and Shareholders
Keystone State Tax Free Fund - Series II
Keystone State Tax Free Fund
Evergreen Tax Free Trust
In planning and performing our audit of the financial statements of the
Evergreen Keystone State Tax Free Funds (including Keystone California Tax Free
Fund, Keystone Florida Tax Free Fund, Keystone Missouri Tax Free Fund, Keystone
Massachusetts Tax Free Fund, Keystone New York Tax Free Fund, Keystone
Pennsylvania Tax Free Fund and Evergreen New Jersey Tax Free Income Fund) for
the year or period ended March 31, 1997, we considered its internal control
structure, including procedures 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 the internal control structure.
The management of the Evergreen Keystone State Tax Free Funds is responsible for
establishing and maintaining an internal control structure. In fulfilling this
responsibility, estimates and judgments by management are required to assess the
expected benefits and related costs of internal control structure policies and
procedures. Two of the objectives of an internal control structure are to
provide management with reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that assets are
safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition and that
transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization and
recorded properly to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
Because of inherent limitations in any internal control structure, errors or
irregularities may occur and not be detected. Also, projection of any evaluation
of the structure to future periods is subject to the risks that it may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the effectiveness of the
design and operation may deteriorate.
Our consideration of the internal control structure would not necessarily
disclose all matters in the internal control structure 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 the specific internal control structure elements does not reduce to
a relatively low level the risk that errors or irregularities 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 the internal control structure, including procedures for safeguarding
securities, that we consider to be material weaknesses as defined above as of
May 2, 1997.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
May 2, 1997
