<PAGE>
000 B000000 10/31/97
000 C000000 0000879587
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
001 B000000 811-6418
001 C000000 2128481870
002 A000000 767 FIFTH AVENUE
002 B000000 NEW YORK
002 C000000 NY
002 D010000 10153
002 D020000 0101
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 4
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00 31
019 C00AA00 LORDABBETT
022 A000001 MESIROW FINANCIAL, INC.
022 B000001 36-3194849
022 C000001 36401
022 D000001 66497
022 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
022 B000002 13-5674085
022 C000002 27481
022 D000002 29435
022 A000003 WILLIAM & SIMON MUNICIPAL SECURITIES
022 B000003 22-3017217
022 C000003 21644
022 D000003 23153
022 A000004 WILLIAM R. HOUGH & CO.
022 B000004 59-2246010
022 C000004 25634
022 D000004 18517
022 A000005 RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
022 B000005 59-1237041
022 C000005 16252
022 D000005 25512
022 A000006 PAINE WEBBER ,INC.
022 B000006 13-2638166
022 C000006 16186
022 D000006 24706
<PAGE>
022 A000007 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000007 13-5108880
022 C000007 21815
022 D000007 16867
022 A000008 BEAR STEARNS & CO., INC.
022 B000008 13-3299429
022 C000008 18689
022 D000008 9862
022 A000009 WHEAT FIRST BUTCHER SINGER, INC.
022 B000009 54-0796506
022 C000009 11206
022 D000009 16446
022 A000010 SHEARSON LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
022 B000010 13-2514866
022 C000010 14312
022 D000010 3829
023 C000000 345070
023 D000000 672055
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
080 A00AA00 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE CO.
080 C00AA00 15000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00 27
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00 0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00 0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00 0
085 A00AA00 Y
085 B00AA00 N
028 A010100 563
028 A020100 269
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 4952
028 B010100 684
028 B020100 250
028 B030100 0
028 B040100 2918
028 C010100 533
028 C020100 249
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 2861
028 D010100 273
028 D020100 250
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 1268
028 E010100 491
028 E020100 240
028 E030100 0
<PAGE>
028 E040100 2133
028 F010100 859
028 F020100 240
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 1779
028 G010100 3403
028 G020100 1498
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 15911
028 H000100 2938
029 000100 Y
030 A000100 251
030 B000100 4.75
030 C000100 0.00
031 A000100 32
031 B000100 0
032 000100 219
033 000100 0
034 000100 Y
035 000100 5
036 A000100 Y
036 B000100 0
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 0
042 D000100 100
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 432
044 000100 0
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 1.7
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 99.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 0
<PAGE>
063 B000100 17.9
064 A000100 N
064 B000100 N
071 A000100 160604
071 B000100 183496
071 C000100 151059
071 D000100 106
072 A000100 12
072 B000100 8964
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 761
072 G000100 0
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 82
072 J000100 0
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 21
072 M000100 4
072 N000100 3
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 0
072 R000100 44
072 S000100 6
072 T000100 432
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 18
072 X000100 1371
072 Y000100 0
072 Z000100 7593
072AA000100 2171
072BB000100 1025
072CC010100 0
072CC020100 1603
072DD010100 7579
072DD020100 346
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.2520
073 A020100 0.2150
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 98
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 2412
074 D000100 143334
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
<PAGE>
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 256
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 1928
074 M000100 0
074 N000100 148028
074 O000100 2437
074 P000100 0
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 843
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 144748
074 U010100 28177
074 U020100 1538
074 V010100 4.87
074 V020100 4.87
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 2621
074 Y000100 7229
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 152093
076 000100 0.00
028 A010200 514
028 A020200 196
028 A030200 0
028 A040200 1185
028 B010200 867
028 B020200 195
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 1091
028 C010200 946
028 C020200 193
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 814
028 D010200 754
028 D020200 195
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 983
028 E010200 780
028 E020200 193
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 538
028 F010200 665
028 F020200 193
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 1376
028 G010200 4526
<PAGE>
028 G020200 1165
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 5987
028 H000200 4526
029 000200 Y
030 A000200 300
030 B000200 4.75
030 C000200 1.00
031 A000200 26
031 B000200 0
032 000200 274
033 000200 0
034 000200 N
035 000200 0
036 B000200 0
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
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 99.7
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
063 A000200 0
063 B000200 17.7
064 A000200 N
064 B000200 N
071 A000200 66342
071 B000200 66313
071 C000200 93417
071 D000200 71
072 A000200 12
072 B000200 5656
072 C000200 0
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 465
072 G000200 0
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 67
072 J000200 0
<PAGE>
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 17
072 M000200 3
072 N000200 5
072 O000200 0
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 0
072 R000200 26
072 S000200 3
072 T000200 0
072 U000200 1
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 18
072 X000200 605
072 Y000200 35
072 Z000200 5086
072AA000200 1200
072BB000200 218
072CC010200 0
072CC020200 1379
072DD010200 5109
072DD020200 0
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.2770
073 A020200 0.0000
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 0
074 B000200 0
074 C000200 0
074 D000200 93934
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 0
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 960
074 K000200 0
074 L000200 1735
074 M000200 0
074 N000200 96629
074 O000200 1911
074 P000200 0
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 481
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 94237
074 U010200 18350
<PAGE>
074 U020200 0
074 V010200 5.14
074 V020200 0.00
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 2422
074 Y000200 8129
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 92992
076 000200 0.00
028 A010300 394
028 A020300 118
028 A030300 0
028 A040300 360
028 B010300 273
028 B020300 117
028 B030300 0
028 B040300 831
028 C010300 396
028 C020300 116
028 C030300 0
028 C040300 624
028 D010300 549
028 D020300 115
028 D030300 0
028 D040300 572
028 E010300 599
028 E020300 117
028 E030300 0
028 E040300 458
028 F010300 394
028 F020300 118
028 F030300 0
028 F040300 160
028 G010300 2605
028 G020300 701
028 G030300 0
028 G040300 3005
028 H000300 2605
029 000300 Y
030 A000300 161
030 B000300 4.75
030 C000300 1.00
031 A000300 21
031 B000300 0
032 000300 140
033 000300 0
062 A000300 Y
062 B000300 0.0
062 C000300 0.0
062 D000300 0.0
062 E000300 0.0
<PAGE>
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 97.8
062 P000300 0.0
062 Q000300 0.0
062 R000300 0.0
063 A000300 0
063 B000300 15.0
064 A000300 N
064 B000300 N
071 A000300 35309
071 B000300 37512
071 C000300 51546
071 D000300 69
072 A000300 12
072 B000300 3088
072 C000300 0
072 D000300 0
072 E000300 0
072 F000300 262
072 G000300 0
072 H000300 0
072 I000300 50
072 J000300 0
072 K000300 0
072 L000300 9
072 M000300 1
072 N000300 2
072 O000300 0
072 P000300 0
072 Q000300 0
072 R000300 18
072 S000300 2
072 T000300 0
072 U000300 4
072 V000300 0
072 W000300 6
072 X000300 354
072 Y000300 45
072 Z000300 2779
072AA000300 588
072BB000300 343
072CC010300 0
072CC020300 1093
<PAGE>
072DD010300 2761
072DD020300 0
072EE000300 0
073 A010300 0.2650
073 A020300 0.0000
073 B000300 0.0000
073 C000300 0.0000
074 A000300 518
074 B000300 0
074 C000300 0
074 D000300 51460
074 E000300 0
074 F000300 0
074 G000300 0
074 H000300 0
074 I000300 0
074 J000300 1664
074 K000300 0
074 L000300 1163
074 M000300 0
074 N000300 54805
074 O000300 1937
074 P000300 0
074 Q000300 0
074 R010300 0
074 R020300 0
074 R030300 0
074 R040300 238
074 S000300 0
074 T000300 52630
074 U010300 10395
074 U020300 0
074 V010300 5.06
074 V020300 0.00
074 W000300 0.0000
074 X000300 1690
074 Y000300 2965
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 51801
076 000300 0.00
028 A010400 171
028 A020400 28
028 A030400 0
028 A040400 79
028 B010400 314
028 B020400 29
028 B030400 0
028 B040400 287
028 C010400 290
028 C020400 28
028 C030400 0
<PAGE>
028 C040400 21
028 D010400 455
028 D020400 29
028 D030400 0
028 D040400 89
028 E010400 520
028 E020400 29
028 E030400 0
028 E040400 82
028 F010400 208
028 F020400 30
028 F030400 0
028 F040400 137
028 G010400 1958
028 G020400 173
028 G030400 0
028 G040400 695
028 H000400 1958
029 000400 Y
030 A000400 157
030 B000400 4.75
030 C000400 1.00
031 A000400 21
031 B000400 0
032 000400 136
033 000400 0
062 A000400 Y
062 B000400 0.0
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 0.0
062 E000400 0.0
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 97.7
062 P000400 0.0
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
063 A000400 0
063 B000400 17.9
064 A000400 N
064 B000400 N
071 A000400 13552
071 B000400 10383
071 C000400 11485
<PAGE>
071 D000400 90
072 A000400 12
072 B000400 671
072 C000400 0
072 D000400 0
072 E000400 0
072 F000400 60
072 G000400 0
072 H000400 0
072 I000400 7
072 J000400 0
072 K000400 0
072 L000400 1
072 M000400 0
072 N000400 1
072 O000400 0
072 P000400 0
072 Q000400 0
072 R000400 5
072 S000400 0
072 T000400 0
072 U000400 1
072 V000400 0
072 W000400 30
072 X000400 105
072 Y000400 60
072 Z000400 626
072AA000400 216
072BB000400 27
072CC010400 0
072CC020400 285
072DD010400 647
072DD020400 0
072EE000400 20
073 A010400 0.2820
073 A020400 0.0000
073 B000400 0.0100
073 C000400 0.0000
074 A000400 33
074 B000400 0
074 C000400 0
074 D000400 13572
074 E000400 0
074 F000400 0
074 G000400 0
074 H000400 0
074 I000400 0
074 J000400 0
074 K000400 0
074 L000400 351
074 M000400 0
<PAGE>
074 N000400 13956
074 O000400 0
074 P000400 0
074 Q000400 0
074 R010400 0
074 R020400 0
074 R030400 0
074 R040400 59
074 S000400 0
074 T000400 13897
074 U010400 2615
074 U020400 0
074 V010400 5.31
074 V020400 0.00
074 W000400 0.0000
074 X000400 436
074 Y000400 2564
075 A000400 0
075 B000400 11958
076 000400 0.00
SIGNATURE JOSEPH VAN DYKE
TITLE ASSISTANT TREASURER
<PAGE>
Board of Trustees
Lord Abbett Tax-Free Income Trust:
In planning and performing our audits of the financial statements of Lord Abbett
Tax-Free Income Trust (the "Fund") for the year ended October 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 Fund is responsible for establishing and maintaining an
adequate 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 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 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
October 31, 1997.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
December 2, 1997
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000879587
<NAME> LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> FLORIDA SERIES CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 138388463
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 145746132
<RECEIVABLES> 2183895
<ASSETS-OTHER> 97922
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 148027949
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2437478
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 842413
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3279891
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 148051228
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 28176682
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 31948297
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 413923
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (10212479)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7357669
<NET-ASSETS> 144748058
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 8488513
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1244107
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7244406
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1146444
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1603515
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 10342387
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 7559484
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1626001
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 6029983
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 632367
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (17321662)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (11358923)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 98671
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 719672
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1244107
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 143934353
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.79
<PER-SHARE-NII> .240
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .092
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .252
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .86
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000879587
<NAME> LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 013
<NAME> FLORIDA SERIES CLASS C
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> JUL-15-1996
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 138388463
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 145746132
<RECEIVABLES> 2183895
<ASSETS-OTHER> 97922
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 148027949
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2437478
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 842413
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 3279891
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 148051228
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1538411
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1891045
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 34435
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (10212479)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 7357669
<NET-ASSETS> 144748058
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 475465
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 127360
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 348105
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1146444
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1603515
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 10342387
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 365618
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 250976
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 632179
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 28569
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (17321661)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (11358923)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 16922
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 40607
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 127360
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 8121547
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.79
<PER-SHARE-NII> .202
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .093
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .215
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 4.87
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.57
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000879587
<NAME> LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 02
<NAME> PENNSYLVANIA SERIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 90245811
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 93933922
<RECEIVABLES> 2696091
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 96630013
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1911247
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 481619
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2392866
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 91466034
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 18350253
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 18492774
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 59542
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (857454)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3688111
<NET-ASSETS> 94237147
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5656232
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 569315
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 5086917
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 981723
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1379031
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 7447671
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 5109328
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1886645
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2498345
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 469179
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 1632456
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1839177)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 37132
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 499570
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 604049
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 92991797
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 5.01
<PER-SHARE-NII> .276
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .131
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .277
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.14
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .61
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000879587
<NAME> LORD ABEET TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 03
<NAME> MICHIGAN SERIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 49830916
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 51460062
<RECEIVABLES> 2826768
<ASSETS-OTHER> 517858
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 54804688
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1937172
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 237706
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2174878
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 52249540
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 10395127
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 10742096
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 4440
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (1253317)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1629146
<NET-ASSETS> 52629810
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3087896
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 308526
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 2779370
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 245609
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 1092550
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4117529
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 2760672
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 830953
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1465934
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 288012
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (345358)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1498926)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 14255
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 307303
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 353886
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 51801486
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 4.93
<PER-SHARE-NII> .267
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .128
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .265
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.06
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .60
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000879587
<NAME> LORD ABBETT TAX-FREE INCOME TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 04
<NAME> GEORGIA SERIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-START> DEC-27-1996
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 13055854
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 13571530
<RECEIVABLES> 350896
<ASSETS-OTHER> 33412
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 13955838
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 58571
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 58571
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 13243254
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2615464
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2078809
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 36578
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 174915
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 515675
<NET-ASSETS> 13897267
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 670931
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 45264
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 625667
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 188948
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 474320
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1099987
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 647441
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 20485
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 788606
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 318591
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 66640
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 3209598
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 6452
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 14807
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 59788
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 105052
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 11957794
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 5.14
<PER-SHARE-NII> .275
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .187
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .282
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .01
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.31
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .38
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
