PIONEER TAX FREE STATE SERIES TRUST
NSAR-A, 1996-10-01
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 04/10/96
000 C000000 0000893968
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 PIONEER TAX-FREE STATE SERIES TRUST
001 B000000 811-7336
001 C000000 6177427825
002 A000000 60 STATE STREET
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
002 D020000 1820
003  000000 N
004  000000 Y
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000  3
007 C010100  1
007 C020100 PIONEER CALIFORNIA DOUBLE TAX-FREE FUND
007 C030100 Y
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 PIONEER NEW YORK TRIPLE TAX-FREE FUND
007 C030200 Y
007 C010300  3
007 C020300 PIONEER MASSACHUSETTS DOUBLE TAX-FREE FUND
007 C030300 Y
007 C010400  4
007 C010500  5
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 PIONEERING MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-8255
008 D01AA01 BOSTON
008 D02AA01 MA
008 D03AA01 02109
008 D04AA01 1820
011 A00AA01 PIONEER FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-41256
011 C01AA01 BOSTON
011 C02AA01 MA
011 C03AA01 02109
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
011 C04AA01 1820
012 A00AA01 PIONEERING SERVICES CORPORATION
012 B00AA01 84-1359
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02109
012 C04AA01 1820
013 A00AA01 ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
013 B01AA01 BOSTON
013 B02AA01 MA
013 B03AA01 02110
013 B04AA01 2604
015 A00AA01 BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & CO.
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BOSTON
015 C02AA01 MA
015 C03AA01 02110
015 C04AA01 1820
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 DELETE
015 A00AA03 DELETE
015 A00AA04 DELETE
015 A00AA05 DELETE
015 A00AA06 DELETE
015 A00AA07 DELETE
015 A00AA08 DELETE
015 A00AA09 DELETE
015 A00AA10 DELETE
015 A00AA11 DELETE
015 A00AA12 DELETE
015 A00AA13 DELETE
015 A00AA14 DELETE
015 A00AA15 DELETE
015 A00AA16 DELETE
015 A00AA17 DELETE
015 A00AA18 DELETE
015 A00AA19 DELETE
015 A00AA20 DELETE
015 A00AA21 DELETE
015 A00AA22 DELETE
015 A00AA23 DELETE
015 A00AA24 DELETE
015 A00AA25 DELETE
018  00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00   33
019 C00AA00 PIONEERFDS
020 C000001      0
020 C000002      0
020 C000003      0
020 C000004      0
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
020 C000005      0
020 C000006      0
020 C000007      0
020 C000008      0
020 C000009      0
020 C000010      0
021  000000        0
022 A000001 HUTCHINSON SHOCKEY
022 B000001 36-2355753
022 C000001         0
022 D000001       863
022 A000002 PAINE WEBBER
022 B000002 13-2638166
022 C000002         0
022 D000002       620
022 A000003 A H WILLIAMS
022 B000003 23-2177819
022 C000003         0
022 D000003       611
022 A000004 FLEET SECURITITES
022 B000004 13-3217611
022 C000004         0
022 D000004       355
022 A000005 ROOSEVELT & CROSS
022 B000005 13-2728032
022 C000005         0
022 D000005       326
022 A000006 CHILTON & O'CONNOR
022 C000006         0
022 D000006       278
022 A000007 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000007 22-2347336
022 C000007         0
022 D000007       275
022 A000008 BEAR STEARNS
022 B000008 13-3299429
022 C000008         0
022 D000008       242
022 A000009 KIRKPATRICK PETTIS
022 B000009 47-0301070
022 C000009         0
022 D000009       228
022 A000010 BAYBANK
022 C000010         0
022 D000010       227
023 C000000          0
023 D000000       4740
024  00AA00 N
025 D00AA01       0
025 D00AA02       0
025 D00AA03       0
<PAGE>      PAGE  4
025 D00AA04       0
025 D00AA05       0
025 D00AA06       0
025 D00AA07       0
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026 A000000 N
026 B000000 N
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
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027  000000 Y
045  00AA00 Y
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047  00AA00 Y
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048 B01AA00        0
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048 K01AA00        0
048 K02AA00 0.000
049  00AA00 N
050  00AA00 N
051  00AA00 N
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053 A00AA00 Y
053 B00AA00 Y
053 C00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 N
054 C00AA00 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  5
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 Y
054 O00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
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061  00AA00       50
066 A00AA00 N
067  00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069  00AA00 N
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
078  000000 N
080 A00AA00 ICI MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY
080 C00AA00    25000
081 A00AA00 Y
081 B00AA00  50
082 A00AA00 N
082 B00AA00        0
083 A00AA00 N
083 B00AA00        0
084 A00AA00 N
084 B00AA00        0
085 A00AA00 Y
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086 C010000      0
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028 A010100         0
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<PAGE>      PAGE  6
028 A030100         0
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031 A000100      0
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033  000100      0
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038  000100      0
039  000100 N
040  000100 Y
041  000100 Y
042 A000100   0
042 B000100   0
042 C000100   0
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<PAGE>      PAGE  7
043  000100      0
044  000100      0
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063 A000100   0
063 B000100  0.0
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 N
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 N
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  8
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
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070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
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070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
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070 R010100 N
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071 A000100         0
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072 E000100        0
072 F000100        0
072 G000100        0
072 H000100        0
072 I000100        0
072 J000100        0
072 K000100        0
072 L000100        0


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893968
<NAME> PIONEER TAX-FREE STATE SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 01
   <NAME> PIONEER CALIFORNIA DOUBLE TAX-FREE FUND
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-10-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    12455
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   12455
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<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        13020
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<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
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<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           122087
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       (109525)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                                     (565)
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                 1904
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  (1904)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        (2982)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (11060)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          (14042)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     122087
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (1317136)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     (106543)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              176
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   1904
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           1072599
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.78
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.12)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.66
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   6.48
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893968
<NAME> PIONEER TAX-FREE STATE SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 03
   <NAME> PIONEER MASSACHUSETTS DOUBLE TAX-FREE
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-10-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                     9106
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    1344
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   10450
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        10293
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              10293
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                         31519
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           184777
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        (31362)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                                       157
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                 1594
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  (1594)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         26364
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (35269)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           (8905)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     184777
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (2031596)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      (57726)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              272
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   1594
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           1655962
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            11.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.94
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   3.51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893968
<NAME> PIONEER TAX-FREE STATE SERIES TRUST
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 02
   <NAME> PIONEER NEW YORK TRIPLE TAX-FREE FUND
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               APR-10-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                0
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                               0
<RECEIVABLES>                                    13302
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                               290
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   13592
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                        12905
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                              12905
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                           687
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                0
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           181787
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                                       687
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                 1747
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  (1747)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              0
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                         40718
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                      (62611)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                          (21893)
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        (9624)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                              0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                   (181787)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       (1987191)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      (31094)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                              268
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                   1747
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                           5226503
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            10.94
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.06)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              10.81
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   3.91
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

To the Board of Directors of


Pioneer Massachusetts Double Tax-Free Fund:

In planning and  performing  our audit of the  financial  statements  of Pioneer
Massachusetts  Double  Tax-Free  Fund for the period  ended March 31,  1996,  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 Pioneer  Massachusetts Double Tax-Free Fund 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 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 may 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
March 31, 1996.

This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Securities and Exchange Commission.







Boston, Massachusetts
April 26, 1996


<PAGE>



To the Board of Directors of

Pioneer New York Triple Tax-Free Fund:

In planning and performing our audit of the financial  statements of Pioneer New
York Triple Tax-Free Fund for the period ended March 31, 1996, 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 Pioneer New York Triple  Tax-Free  Fund 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 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 may 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
March 31, 1996.

This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Securities and Exchange Commission.







Boston, Massachusetts
April 26, 1996


<PAGE>



To the Board of Directors of

Pioneer California Double Tax-Free Fund:

In planning and  performing  our audit of the  financial  statements  of Pioneer
California  Double  Tax-Free  Fund for the  period  ended  March  31,  1996,  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 Pioneer  California  Double  Tax-Free Fund 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 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 may 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
March 31, 1996.

This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Securities and Exchange Commission.







Boston, Massachusetts
April 26, 1996


<PAGE>



To the Board of Directors of

Pioneer Tax-Free State Series Trust (comprised of Pioneer Massachusetts
   Double Tax-Free Fund, Pioneer New York Triple Tax-Free Fund, Pioneer
   California Double Tax-Free Fund):

In planning and  performing  our audit of the  financial  statements  of Pioneer
Tax-Free State Series Trust (comprised of Pioneer  Massachusetts Double Tax-Free
Fund,  Pioneer New York Triple Tax-Free Fund, Pioneer California Double Tax-Free
Fund) for the period ended March 31, 1996,  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 Pioneer  Tax-Free  State Series Trust  (comprised of Pioneer
Massachusetts  Double  Tax-Free  Fund,  Pioneer New York Triple  Tax-Free  Fund,
Pioneer  California  Double Tax-Free Fund) 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 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 may 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
March 31, 1996.

This report is intended solely for the information and use of management and the
Securities and Exchange Commission.







Boston, Massachusetts
April 26, 1996







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