HANCOCK JOHN TAX FREE BOND TRUST
NSAR-A, 2000-04-20
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 02/29/2000
000 C000000 0000857769
000 D000000 N
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002 A000000 101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02199
002 D020000 7603
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004  000000 N
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007 A000000 Y
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007 C010100  1
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007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE 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
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008 B00AA01 A
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008 D01AA01 BOSTON
008 D02AA01 MA
008 D03AA01 02199
008 D04AA01 7603
011 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-43582
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02199
011 C04AA01 7603
012 A00AA01 JOHN HANCOCK SIGNATURE SERVICES, INC.
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
012 B00AA01 84-18851
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02199
012 C04AA01 7603
013 A00AA01 ERNST & YOUNG LLP
013 B01AA01 BOSTON
013 B02AA01 MA
013 B03AA01 02116
014 A00AA01 SIGNATOR INVESTORS, INC.
014 B00AA01 8-13995
014 A00AA02 JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS, INC.
014 B00AA02 8-43582
015 A00AA01 INVESTORS BANK & TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BOSTON
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02110
015 E01AA01 X
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<PAGE>      PAGE  3
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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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070 D020200 N
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070 E020200 N
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070 F020200 N
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070 H020200 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  12
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SIGNATURE   SUSAN S. NEWTON
TITLE       VICE PRESIDENT



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 011
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND FUND - CLASS A

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<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.86


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 012
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND FUND - CLASS B

<S>                             <C>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   (20,845,422)
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<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.61


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 013
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-FREE BOND FUND - CLASS C

<S>                             <C>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     624,217,603
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          6,824,539
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
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<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   (20,845,422)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    20,477,563
<NET-ASSETS>                               634,289,452
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           21,251,559
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               3,303,070
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     17,948,489
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (725,799)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                 (25,053,572)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      (7,830,882)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                       18,197
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                            88
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      1,521,561
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  1,354,681
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                908
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      74,772,637
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                      1,119,232
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                 (20,027,567)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        1,788,438
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              3,773,201
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           780,146
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.36
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.23
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.38)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.23)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               9.98
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.71


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND - CLASS A

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-29-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      138,312,313
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     138,186,093
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,352,488
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  69,288
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           265,127
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             140,872,996
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     1,451,950
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      306,041
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          1,757,991
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   153,287,593
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        5,338,942
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        5,408,953
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                           6,908
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   (14,039,460)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     (126,220)
<NET-ASSETS>                               139,115,005
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            5,265,814
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               1,151,316
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      4,114,498
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (462,683)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  (7,302,679)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      (3,650,864)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    1,391,021
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        729,249
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    862,045
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             62,785
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      22,828,694
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                 (13,576,777)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                          6,908
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          443,848
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              1,165,612
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        46,593,749
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.03
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.26
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.45)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.26)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               8.58
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.04


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 022
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND - CLASS B

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-29-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      138,312,313
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     138,186,093
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,352,488
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  69,288
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           265,127
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             140,872,996
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     1,451,950
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      306,041
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          1,757,991
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   153,287,593
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       10,834,195
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       12,493,045
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                           6,908
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   (14,039,460)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     (126,220)
<NET-ASSETS>                               139,115,005
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            5,265,814
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               1,151,316
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      4,114,498
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (462,683)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  (7,302,679)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      (3,650,864)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                    2,716,645
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        646,800
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  2,412,243
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            106,593
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      22,828,694
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                 (13,576,777)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                          6,908
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          443,848
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              1,165,612
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       103,893,025
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.03
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.23
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.45)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.23)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               8.58
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.79


</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 023
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK HIGH YIELD TAX-FREE FUND - CLASS C

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             SEP-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               FEB-29-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      138,312,313
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     138,186,093
<RECEIVABLES>                                2,352,488
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  69,288
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           265,127
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             140,872,996
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                     1,451,950
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      306,041
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          1,757,991
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   153,287,593
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                           32,916
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           25,402
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                           6,908
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                   (14,039,460)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     (126,220)
<NET-ASSETS>                               139,115,005
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            5,265,814
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               1,151,316
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      4,114,498
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     (462,683)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  (7,302,679)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                      (3,650,864)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        6,832
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         13,270
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                      6,320
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                564
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      22,828,694
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                 (13,576,777)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                          6,908
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          443,848
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              1,165,612
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           263,201
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.03
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.23
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.45)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.23)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                               8.58
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.79


</TABLE>


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