<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 03/31/95
000 C000000 0000919736
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 PUTNAM INTERMEDIATE TAX EXEMPT FUND
001 B000000 811-7151
001 C000000 6172921000
002 A000000 ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
003 000000 Y
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-7974
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02109
011 A000001 PUTNAM MUTUAL FUNDS CORP
011 B000001 8-5088
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02109
012 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES
012 B000001 84-401299
012 C010001 BOSTON
012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02109
013 A000001 COOPERS & LYBRAND
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 B030001 02111
015 A000001 PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST CO
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02109
015 E010001 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 86
019 C000000 PUTNAMFUND
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 SMITH BARNEY SHEARSON
022 B000001 13-1912900
022 C000001 3722
022 D000001 3278
022 A000002 GOLDMAN SACHS
022 B000002 13-5108880
022 C000002 4887
022 D000002 1485
022 A000003 MCDONALD & CO.
022 B000003 34-0642435
022 C000003 1793
022 D000003 687
022 A000004 MERRILL LYNCH PIERCE FENNER SMITH
022 B000004 13-5674085
022 C000004 100
022 D000004 2323
022 A000005 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000005 22-2347336
022 C000005 563
022 D000005 1212
022 A000006 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000006 13-2518466
022 C000006 1221
022 D000006 341
022 A000007 PAINE WEBBER
022 B000007 13-2638166
022 C000007 820
022 D000007 1036
022 A000008 SEATTLE NORTHWEST
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 B000008 91-1172183
022 C000008 0
022 D000008 867
022 A000009 KEMPER SECURITIES
022 B000009 34-1542819
022 C000009 0
022 D000009 838
022 A000010 EA MOES & CO
022 B000010 22-9942800
022 C000010 484
022 D000010 256
023 C000000 13590
023 D000000 12323
024 000000 N
025 D000001 0
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 Y
026 G020000 Y
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 1601619
028 A020000 21569
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 183307
028 B010000 1156192
028 B020000 23982
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 219967
028 C010000 2585479
028 C020000 26747
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 481732
028 D010000 974334
028 D020000 30129
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 892151
028 E010000 521642
028 E020000 29573
028 E030000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
028 E040000 1151269
028 F010000 839866
028 F020000 32537
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 475672
028 G010000 7679132
028 G020000 164537
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 3404098
028 H000000 7679132
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 38
030 B000000 3.25
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 4
031 B000000 0
032 000000 34
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 0
036 A000000 N
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 100
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 19
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 500000
048 A020000 0.600
048 B010000 500000
048 B020000 0.500
048 C010000 500000
048 C020000 0.450
048 D010000 0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000 0
048 E020000 0.000
<PAGE> PAGE 5
048 F010000 0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000 0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 1500000
048 K020000 0.400
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 Y
053 B000000 Y
053 C000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 Y
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 N
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 500
062 A000000 Y
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 0.0
062 O000000 94.8
062 P000000 0.0
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 5.2
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
064 A000000 Y
064 B000000 N
066 A000000 N
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 N
070 B010000 Y
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 Y
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 Y
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 Y
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 Y
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 Y
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 Y
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 N
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 N
070 L020000 N
070 M010000 N
070 M020000 N
070 N010000 N
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 N
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 14721
071 B000000 12143
071 C000000 10754
071 D000000 122
072 A000000 6
072 B000000 330
072 C000000 0
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 30
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 35
072 J000000 0
072 K000000 0
072 L000000 0
072 M000000 1
072 N000000 4
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 11
072 S000000 16
072 T000000 19
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 5
072 X000000 121
072 Y000000 65
072 Z000000 274
072AA000000 0
072BB000000 332
072CC010000 344
072CC020000 0
072DD010000 175
072DD020000 97
072EE000000 0
073 A010000 0.2200
073 A020000 0.2000
073 B000000 0.0000
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 280
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 0
074 D000000 11011
074 E000000 0
074 F000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 0
074 K000000 31
074 L000000 363
074 M000000 76
074 N000000 11761
074 O000000 0
074 P000000 6
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 137
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 11618
074 U010000 879
074 U020000 550
074 V010000 8.13
074 V020000 8.14
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 433
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 10247
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 N
SIGNATURE GORDON H. SILVER
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM Putnam Intermediate Tax Exempt Income Class A AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1994
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 10,691,845
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 11,010,769
<RECEIVABLES> 394,153
<ASSETS-OTHER> 355,843
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,760,765
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 142,318
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 142,318
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 11,710,549
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 879,024
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,061
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (407,556)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 314,393
<NET-ASSETS> 11,618,447
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 329,760
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 55,414
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 274,346
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (332,107)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 344,223
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 286,462
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (175,195)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 662,966
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (311,730)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 13,129
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 4,454,972
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 30,377
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 55,414
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 6,333,099
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.23
<PER-SHARE-NII> .23
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.11)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.22)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.13
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .42
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM Putnam Intermediate Tax Exempt Income Class B AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1994
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 10,691,845
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 11,010,769
<RECEIVABLES> 394,153
<ASSETS-OTHER> 355,843
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,760,765
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 142,318
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 142,318
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 11,710,549
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 549,595
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 1,061
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (407,556)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 314,393
<NET-ASSETS> 11,618,447
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 329,760
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 55,414
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 274,346
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (332,107)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 344,223
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 286,462
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (96,817)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 300,800
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (113,798)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 7,388
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 4,454,972
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 30,377
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 55,414
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,914,195
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.24
<PER-SHARE-NII> .20
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.10)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.20)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.14
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .73
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>