<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 04/30/96
000 C000000 0000814079
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS FOR INSTITUTIONS SERIES
001 B000000 811-5149
001 C000000 8002251576
002 A000000 ONE FINANCIAL CENTER 15TH FLOOR
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02111
002 D020000 2646
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 4
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 MERRILL LYNCH TREASURY FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 MERRILL LYNCH INSTITUTIONAL FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C020300 MERRILL LYNCH GOVERNMENT FUND
007 C030300 N
007 C010400 4
007 C020400 MERRILL LYNCH INSTITUTIONAL TAX-EXEMPT FUND
007 C030400 N
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-12485
008 D01AA01 PRINCETON
008 D02AA01 NJ
008 D03AA01 08543
008 D04AA01 9011
008 A00AA02 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT U.K. LTD.
008 B00AA02 S
008 C00AA02 801-31780
<PAGE> PAGE 2
008 D01AA02 LONDON
008 D05AA02 ENGLAND
010 C01AA03 .
010 C02AA03 .
011 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-14663
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02111
011 C04AA01 2646
012 A00AA01 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
012 B00AA01 85-05003
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02266
012 C04AA01 8500
013 A00AA01 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B01AA01 BOSTON
013 B02AA01 MA
013 B03AA01 02110
013 B04AA01 1617
014 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
014 B00AA01 8-7221
015 A00AA01 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BOSTON
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02266
015 C04AA01 8500
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B00AA02 S
015 C01AA02 NEW YORK
015 C02AA02 NY
015 C03AA02 10015
015 E01AA02 X
015 A00AA03 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA03 S
015 C01AA03 NEW YORK
015 C02AA03 NY
015 C03AA03 10006
015 E01AA03 X
015 A00AA04 CHEMICAL BANK
015 B00AA04 S
015 C01AA04 NEW YORK
015 C02AA04 NY
015 C03AA04 10017
015 E01AA04 X
015 A00AA05 CUSTODIAL TRUST CO.
015 B00AA05 S
015 C01AA05 NEW YORK
<PAGE> PAGE 3
015 C02AA05 Y
015 C03AA05 10167
015 E01AA05 X
015 A00AA06 MORGAN GUARANTEE TRUST CO.
015 B00AA06 S
015 C01AA06 NEW YORK
015 C02AA06 NY
015 C03AA06 10260
015 E01AA06 X
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 180
019 C00AA00 MERRILLLYN
020 C000001 0
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 0
022 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO
022 B000001 13-5108880
022 C000001 59500269
022 D000001 34748534
022 A000002 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
022 B000002 13-2518466
022 C000002 47361717
022 D000002 2020296
022 A000003 HSBC SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000003 13-2650272
022 C000003 24801624
022 D000003 6494668
022 A000004 SMITH BARNEY INC.
022 B000004 13-1912900
022 C000004 21442246
022 D000004 1920951
022 A000005 FUJI SECURITIES INC.
022 B000005 36-2880742
022 C000005 21052635
022 D000005 716934
022 A000006 CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000006 13-5659485
022 C000006 6779084
022 D000006 2871657
022 A000007 SBC CAPITAL MARKETS INC.
022 B000007 13-5424347
022 C000007 6482257
<PAGE> PAGE 4
022 D000007 74988
022 A000008 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER & SMITH INC.
022 B000008 13-5674085
022 C000008 3906205
022 D000008 2141172
022 A000009 BARCLAYS DE SOETE WEDD SECURITIES INC.
022 B000009 13-3551367
022 C000009 4160940
022 D000009 1594469
022 A000010 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES INC.
022 B000010 13-3224016
022 C000010 4490302
022 D000010 1183422
023 C000000 267254719
023 D000000 68878243
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
029 00AA00 N
030 A00AA00 0
030 B00AA00 0.00
030 C00AA00 0.00
031 A00AA00 0
031 B00AA00 0
032 00AA00 0
033 00AA00 0
034 00AA00 N
035 00AA00 0
036 B00AA00 0
037 00AA00 N
038 00AA00 0
039 00AA00 N
040 00AA00 Y
041 00AA00 Y
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 5
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
055 A00AA00 N
055 B00AA00 N
056 00AA00 Y
057 00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 25000
066 A00AA00 N
067 00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069 00AA00 N
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
077 P000000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A00AA00 ICI MUTUAL INS. CO.
080 C00AA00 2500
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 109
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
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
024 000100 N
025 D000101 0
025 D000102 0
025 D000103 0
025 D000104 0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
025 D000105 0
025 D000106 0
025 D000107 0
025 D000108 0
028 A010100 223077
028 A020100 2075
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 170226
028 B010100 404557
028 B020100 2313
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 204219
028 C010100 300709
028 C020100 2216
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 483954
028 D010100 244468
028 D020100 2277
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 188843
028 E010100 221282
028 E020100 2355
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 280508
028 F010100 236442
028 F020100 2038
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 286323
028 G010100 1630535
028 G020100 13274
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 1614073
028 H000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 100
042 D000100 0
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 0
044 000100 304
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.000
048 A010100 500000
048 A020100 0.350
048 B010100 250000
048 B020100 0.335
<PAGE> PAGE 7
048 C010100 250000
048 C020100 0.320
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 1000000
048 K020100 0.300
049 000100 N
050 000100 N
051 000100 N
052 000100 N
053 A000100 Y
053 B000100 Y
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 100.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
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 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 47
063 B000100 0.0
064 A000100 N
064 B000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 N
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 8
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 N
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
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
071 A000100 0
071 B000100 0
071 C000100 0
071 D000100 0
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 28001
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 1793
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 97
072 J000100 76
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 8
072 M000100 6
072 N000100 122
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 9
072 S000100 4
072 T000100 0
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 6
072 X000100 2121
072 Y000100 766
072 Z000100 26646
072AA000100 277
072BB000100 56
072CC010100 10
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 26868
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.0520
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 1489
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 510483
074 D000100 0
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 0
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 2225
074 M000100 1
074 N000100 514198
074 O000100 0
074 P000100 0
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 74
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 514124
074 U010100 514134
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 1.00
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.9999
074 X000100 1031
074 Y000100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 10
075 A000100 512346
075 B000100 0
076 000100 0.00
024 000200 Y
025 A000201 GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP, L.P.
025 B000201 13-5108880
025 C000201 D
025 D000201 331761
025 A000202 BEAR STEARNS
025 B000202 13-3299429
025 C000202 D
025 D000202 59004
025 A000203 NORMURA SECURITIES CORP.
025 B000203 13-2642206
025 C000203 D
025 D000203 49863
025 D000204 0
025 D000205 0
025 D000206 0
025 D000207 0
025 D000208 0
028 A010200 5418476
028 A020200 30176
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 5110364
028 B010200 6346682
028 B020200 30302
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 6902068
028 C010200 10812720
028 C020200 32119
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 9764971
028 D010200 10861687
028 D020200 32680
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 9936297
028 E010200 6657351
028 E020200 31995
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 8065632
028 F010200 5064201
028 F020200 27686
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 5458956
028 G010200 45161117
028 G020200 184958
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 45238288
028 H000200 0
042 A000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 11
042 B000200 0
042 C000200 100
042 D000200 0
042 E000200 0
042 F000200 0
042 G000200 0
042 H000200 0
043 000200 0
044 000200 3630
045 000200 Y
046 000200 N
047 000200 Y
048 000200 0.000
048 A010200 250000
048 A020200 0.400
048 B010200 250000
048 B020200 0.375
048 C010200 250000
048 C020200 0.350
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 750000
048 K020200 0.325
049 000200 N
050 000200 N
051 000200 N
052 000200 N
053 A000200 Y
053 B000200 Y
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200 6.6
062 C000200 29.9
062 D000200 2.8
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 6.2
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 33.5
062 J000200 3.0
<PAGE> PAGE 12
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 18.0
062 M000200 0.0
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
063 A000200 53
063 B000200 0.0
064 A000200 N
064 B000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 Y
070 B010200 N
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 N
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 N
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 N
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 N
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 N
070 G020200 N
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 N
070 J020200 N
070 K010200 N
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 Y
070 M010200 N
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 N
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 Y
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 0
071 B000200 0
071 C000200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 13
071 D000200 0
072 A000200 12
072 B000200 464532
072 C000200 0
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 26191
072 G000200 0
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 725
072 J000200 580
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 97
072 M000200 93
072 N000200 1490
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 109
072 S000200 55
072 T000200 0
072 U000200 0
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 79
072 X000200 29419
072 Y000200 10264
072 Z000200 445377
072AA000200 4659
072BB000200 1950
072CC010200 0
072CC020200 6135
072DD010200 212060
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.0560
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 10208
074 B000200 215000
074 C000200 7382152
074 D000200 0
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 0
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 24934
074 K000200 0
074 L000200 37596
074 M000200 177
<PAGE> PAGE 14
074 N000200 7670067
074 O000200 50153
074 P000200 0
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 4788
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 7615126
074 U010200 7621162
074 U020200 0
074 V010200 1.00
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.9992
074 X000200 11626
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 7941983
075 B000200 0
076 000200 0.00
024 000300 N
025 D000301 0
025 D000302 0
025 D000303 0
025 D000304 0
025 D000305 0
025 D000306 0
025 D000307 0
025 D000308 0
028 A010300 678836
028 A020300 6883
028 A030300 0
028 A040300 804412
028 B010300 953983
028 B020300 7073
028 B030300 0
028 B040300 856678
028 C010300 810041
028 C020300 7497
028 C030300 0
028 C040300 791873
028 D010300 984708
028 D020300 7633
028 D030300 0
028 D040300 913421
028 E010300 822327
028 E020300 7292
028 E030300 0
028 E040300 967907
028 F010300 992814
028 F020300 7253
<PAGE> PAGE 15
028 F030300 0
028 F040300 969798
028 G010300 5242709
028 G020300 43631
028 G030300 0
028 G040300 5304089
028 H000300 0
042 A000300 0
042 B000300 0
042 C000300 100
042 D000300 0
042 E000300 0
042 F000300 0
042 G000300 0
042 H000300 0
043 000300 0
044 000300 662
045 000300 Y
046 000300 N
047 000300 Y
048 000300 0.000
048 A010300 500000
048 A020300 0.350
048 B010300 250000
048 B020300 0.335
048 C010300 250000
048 C020300 0.320
048 D010300 0
048 D020300 0.000
048 E010300 0
048 E020300 0.000
048 F010300 0
048 F020300 0.000
048 G010300 0
048 G020300 0.000
048 H010300 0
048 H020300 0.000
048 I010300 0
048 I020300 0.000
048 J010300 0
048 J020300 0.000
048 K010300 1000000
048 K020300 0.300
049 000300 N
050 000300 N
051 000300 N
052 000300 N
053 A000300 Y
053 B000300 Y
062 A000300 Y
062 B000300 6.8
<PAGE> PAGE 16
062 C000300 76.1
062 D000300 17.1
062 E000300 0.0
062 F000300 0.0
062 G000300 0.0
062 H000300 0.0
062 I000300 0.0
062 J000300 0.0
062 K000300 0.0
062 L000300 0.0
062 M000300 0.0
062 N000300 0.0
062 O000300 0.0
062 P000300 0.0
062 Q000300 0.0
062 R000300 0.0
063 A000300 41
063 B000300 0.0
064 A000300 N
064 B000300 N
070 A010300 Y
070 A020300 Y
070 B010300 N
070 B020300 N
070 C010300 N
070 C020300 N
070 D010300 N
070 D020300 N
070 E010300 N
070 E020300 N
070 F010300 N
070 F020300 N
070 G010300 N
070 G020300 N
070 H010300 N
070 H020300 N
070 I010300 N
070 I020300 N
070 J010300 N
070 J020300 N
070 K010300 N
070 K020300 N
070 L010300 N
070 L020300 N
070 M010300 N
070 M020300 N
070 N010300 Y
070 N020300 N
070 O010300 Y
070 O020300 N
070 P010300 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 17
070 P020300 N
070 Q010300 N
070 Q020300 N
070 R010300 N
070 R020300 N
071 A000300 0
071 B000300 0
071 C000300 0
071 D000300 0
072 A000300 12
072 B000300 96448
072 C000300 0
072 D000300 0
072 E000300 0
072 F000300 5423
072 G000300 0
072 H000300 0
072 I000300 289
072 J000300 192
072 K000300 0
072 L000300 23
072 M000300 19
072 N000300 391
072 O000300 0
072 P000300 0
072 Q000300 0
072 R000300 29
072 S000300 12
072 T000300 0
072 U000300 0
072 V000300 0
072 W000300 21
072 X000300 6399
072 Y000300 2067
072 Z000300 92116
072AA000300 332
072BB000300 14
072CC010300 0
072CC020300 230
072DD010300 92434
072DD020300 0
072EE000300 0
073 A010300 0.0550
073 A020300 0.0000
073 B000300 0.0000
073 C000300 0.0000
074 A000300 4774
074 B000300 280830
074 C000300 1363428
074 D000300 0
074 E000300 0
<PAGE> PAGE 18
074 F000300 0
074 G000300 0
074 H000300 0
074 I000300 0
074 J000300 0
074 K000300 0
074 L000300 4277
074 M000300 95
074 N000300 1653404
074 O000300 9464
074 P000300 0
074 Q000300 0
074 R010300 0
074 R020300 0
074 R030300 0
074 R040300 315
074 S000300 0
074 T000300 1643625
074 U010300 1643816
074 U020300 0
074 V010300 1.00
074 V020300 0.00
074 W000300 0.9998
074 X000300 4259
074 Y000300 0
075 A000300 1673611
075 B000300 0
076 000300 0.00
024 000400 N
025 D000401 0
025 D000402 0
025 D000403 0
025 D000404 0
025 D000405 0
025 D000406 0
025 D000407 0
025 D000408 0
028 A010400 242161
028 A020400 1313
028 A030400 0
028 A040400 216975
028 B010400 511138
028 B020400 1570
028 B030400 0
028 B040400 459982
028 C010400 480537
028 C020400 1469
028 C030400 0
028 C040400 426943
028 D010400 247998
028 D020400 1438
<PAGE> PAGE 19
028 D030400 0
028 D040400 263838
028 E010400 299353
028 E020400 1599
028 E030400 0
028 E040400 217860
028 F010400 373651
028 F020400 1675
028 F030400 0
028 F040400 366331
028 G010400 2154838
028 G020400 9064
028 G030400 0
028 G040400 1951929
028 H000400 0
042 A000400 0
042 B000400 0
042 C000400 100
042 D000400 0
042 E000400 0
042 F000400 0
042 G000400 0
042 H000400 0
043 000400 0
044 000400 293
045 000400 Y
046 000400 N
047 000400 Y
048 000400 0.000
048 A010400 1500000
048 A020400 0.450
048 B010400 500000
048 B020400 0.425
048 C010400 0
048 C020400 0.000
048 D010400 0
048 D020400 0.000
048 E010400 0
048 E020400 0.000
048 F010400 0
048 F020400 0.000
048 G010400 0
048 G020400 0.000
048 H010400 0
048 H020400 0.000
048 I010400 0
048 I020400 0.000
048 J010400 0
048 J020400 0.000
048 K010400 2000000
048 K020400 0.400
<PAGE> PAGE 20
049 000400 N
050 000400 N
051 000400 N
052 000400 N
053 A000400 Y
053 B000400 Y
062 A000400 Y
062 B000400 0.0
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 0.0
062 E000400 100.0
062 F000400 0.0
062 G000400 0.0
062 H000400 0.0
062 I000400 0.0
062 J000400 0.0
062 K000400 0.0
062 L000400 0.0
062 M000400 0.0
062 N000400 0.0
062 O000400 0.0
062 P000400 0.0
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
063 A000400 38
063 B000400 0.0
064 A000400 Y
064 B000400 N
070 A010400 Y
070 A020400 N
070 B010400 N
070 B020400 N
070 C010400 N
070 C020400 N
070 D010400 N
070 D020400 N
070 E010400 N
070 E020400 N
070 F010400 N
070 F020400 N
070 G010400 N
070 G020400 N
070 H010400 N
070 H020400 N
070 I010400 N
070 I020400 N
070 J010400 Y
070 J020400 N
070 K010400 N
070 K020400 N
070 L010400 N
<PAGE> PAGE 21
070 L020400 N
070 M010400 N
070 M020400 N
070 N010400 N
070 N020400 N
070 O010400 Y
070 O020400 N
070 P010400 Y
070 P020400 N
070 Q010400 N
070 Q020400 N
070 R010400 N
070 R020400 N
071 A000400 0
071 B000400 0
071 C000400 0
071 D000400 0
072 A000400 12
072 B000400 18248
072 C000400 0
072 D000400 0
072 E000400 0
072 F000400 2109
072 G000400 0
072 H000400 0
072 I000400 114
072 J000400 95
072 K000400 0
072 L000400 7
072 M000400 5
072 N000400 162
072 O000400 0
072 P000400 0
072 Q000400 0
072 R000400 11
072 S000400 4
072 T000400 0
072 U000400 30
072 V000400 0
072 W000400 7
072 X000400 2544
072 Y000400 1172
072 Z000400 16875
072AA000400 4
072BB000400 3
072CC010400 0
072CC020400 0
072DD010400 16870
072DD020400 0
072EE000400 0
073 A010400 0.0400
<PAGE> PAGE 22
073 A020400 0.0000
073 B000400 0.0000
073 C000400 0.0000
074 A000400 1854
074 B000400 0
074 C000400 665558
074 D000400 0
074 E000400 0
074 F000400 0
074 G000400 0
074 H000400 0
074 I000400 0
074 J000400 0
074 K000400 0
074 L000400 3873
074 M000400 78
074 N000400 671363
074 O000400 4106
074 P000400 0
074 Q000400 0
074 R010400 0
074 R020400 0
074 R030400 0
074 R040400 53
074 S000400 0
074 T000400 667204
074 U010400 667324
074 U020400 0
074 V010400 1.00
074 V020400 0.00
074 W000400 0.9997
074 X000400 1569
074 Y000400 0
075 A000400 467496
075 B000400 0
076 000400 0.00
SIGNATURE WILLIAM M. BREEN
TITLE SR. VICE PRESIDENT
[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000814079
[NAME] MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS FOR INSTITUTIONS SERIES
[SERIES]
[NUMBER] 1
[NAME] MERRILL LYNCH TREASURY FUND
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE] 12-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] APR-30-1996
[PERIOD-START] MAY-1-1995
[PERIOD-END] APR-30-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 510493228
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 510483049
[RECEIVABLES] 2224936
[ASSETS-OTHER] 1489851
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 514197836
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 0
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 74354
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 74354
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 514133661
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 514133661
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 342864941
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 10179
[NET-ASSETS] 514123482
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 0
[INTEREST-INCOME] 28001355
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 1355211
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 26646144
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 221477
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] 10300
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 26877921
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 26867621
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 277099
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 2984431147
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 2838827671
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 25665244
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 171268720
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 1792930
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 2120640
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 512346365
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 1.00
[PER-SHARE-NII] .052
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 231777
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] .052
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] 0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 1.00
[EXPENSE-RATIO] .052
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000814079
[NAME] MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS FOR INSTITUTIONS SERIES
[SERIES]
[NUMBER] 2
[NAME] MERRILL LYNCH INSTITUTIONAL FUND
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE] 12-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] APR-30-1996
[PERIOD-START] MAY-1-1995
[PERIOD-END] APR-30-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 7603188283
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 7597151977
[RECEIVABLES] 62530303
[ASSETS-OTHER] 10385061
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 7670067341
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 50153142
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 4788323
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 54941465
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 7621162182
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 7621162182
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 6579987346
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 6036306
[NET-ASSETS] 7615125876
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 0
[INTEREST-INCOME] 464533053
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 19155092
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 445376961
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 2709598
<DEPREC-DECREASE-CURRENT> 6134973
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 441951586
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 448086559
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 4659487
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 81859341129
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 81179030074
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 360863781
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 1041174836
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 26191407
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 29419016
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 7941982701
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 1.00
[PER-SHARE-NII] .056
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 3425375
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] .056
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] 0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 1.00
[EXPENSE-RATIO] .24
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000814079
[NAME] MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS FOR INSTITUTIONS SERIES
[SERIES]
[NUMBER] 3
[NAME] MERRILL LYNCH GOVERNMENT FUND
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE] 12-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] APR-30-1996
[PERIOD-START] MAY-1-1995
[PERIOD-END] APR-30-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 1644450024
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 1644258306
[RECEIVABLES] 4276668
[ASSETS-OTHER] 4868854
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 1653403828
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 9464111
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 315057
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 9779168
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 1643816378
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 1643816378
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 1601046564
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] (191718)
[NET-ASSETS] 1643624660
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 0
[INTEREST-INCOME] 96447559
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 4331916
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 92115643
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 318832
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] (230159)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 92204316
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 92434475
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 332446
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 11319796312
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 11363934579
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 86908080
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 42769813
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 5423149
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 6348673
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 1073610593
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 1.00
[PER-SHARE-NII] .055
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 88672
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] .055
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] 0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 1.00
[EXPENSE-RATIO] .26
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000814079
[NAME] MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS FOR INSTITUTION SERIES
[SERIES]
[NUMBER] 4
[NAME] MERRILL LYNCH INSTITUTIONAL TAX-EXEMPT FUND
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE] 12-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END] APR-30-1996
[PERIOD-START] MAY-1-1995
[PERIOD-END] APR-30-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 665557634
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 665557634
[RECEIVABLES] 3873408
[ASSETS-OTHER] 1932486
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 671363528
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 4106191
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 52642
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 4158833
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 667324370
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 667324370
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 404028815
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 796
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 119675
[NET-ASSETS] 667204695
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 0
[INTEREST-INCOME] 18247752
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 1372459
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 16875293
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 796
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] 796
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 16876089
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 16870256
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] 0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 3532959162
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] 3285337991
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 15674384
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 2109495
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 2544400
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 467495765
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 1.00
[PER-SHARE-NII] .04
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 796
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] .04
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] 0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 1.00
[EXPENSE-RATIO] .29
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
</TABLE>
