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September 16, 2005

Columbia Funds Trust IX
One Financial Center
Boston, MA 02111

Re: Columbia Funds Trust IX (the "Trust") - Post-Effective Amendment No. 40 to
    the Registration Statement of the Trust on Form N-1A (File Nos. 2-99356;
    811-43671)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

You have informed us that you propose to register under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), and offer and sell from time to time shares of
beneficial interest ("Shares") of the funds listed on Schedule A hereto (each a
"Fund" and collectively, the "Funds"), each a series of the Trust.

We act as counsel for the Trust and are familiar with the actions taken by its
Board of Trustees to authorize the issuance of the Shares. We have examined the
Trust's Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust and amendments
thereto on file at the office of the Secretary of The Commonwealth of
Massachusetts (collectively, the "Agreement and Declaration of Trust") and the
Trust's Amended and Restated By-Laws. We have also examined and relied upon the
original or copies of minutes of the meetings or written consents of the Board
of Trustees of the Trust and such other documents, including certificates of
officers of the Trust, as we have deemed necessary for purposes of rendering our
opinions below. We have assumed the genuineness of the signatures on all
documents examined by us, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals and the conformity to the corresponding originals of all documents
submitted to us as copies.

We assume that appropriate action has been taken to register or qualify the sale
of the Shares under any applicable state and federal laws regulating offerings
and sales of securities.

We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States of America. Further, we
express no opinion as to the state securities or "Blue Sky" laws of any
jurisdiction, including The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Insofar as this opinion relates to factual matters, we have made inquiries to
officers of the Trust to the extent we believe reasonable with respect to such
matters and have relied upon

ROPES & GRAY

Columbia Funds Trust IX                2-                     September 16, 2005


representations made by the Trust in the Agreement and Declaration of Trust and
representations made to us by one or more officers of the Trust. Although we
have not independently verified the accuracy of such representations, we do not
know of the existence or absence of any fact contradicting such representations.
Any reference herein to "our knowledge," "known to us" or any variation thereof
shall mean the actual knowledge of lawyers in this firm who generally represent
the Trust.

Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the issue and sale by the
Trust of an unlimited number of Shares of each Fund has been duly authorized
under Massachusetts law. Upon the original issue and sale of any such authorized
but unissued Shares and upon receipt by the Trust of the authorized
consideration therefor in an amount not less than the applicable net asset
value, the Shares so issued will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
by the Trust.

The Trust is an entity of the type commonly known as a "Massachusetts business
trust." Under Massachusetts law, shareholders could, under certain
circumstances, be held personally liable for the obligations of the Trust.
However, the Agreement and Declaration of Trust disclaims shareholder liability
for acts or obligations of the Trust and requires that a notice of such
disclaimer be given in each note, bond, contract, instrument, certificate or
undertaking entered into or executed by the Trust or its Trustees. The Agreement
and Declaration of Trust provides that in case any shareholder or former
shareholder shall be held to be personally liable solely by reason of his or her
being or having been a shareholder and not because of his or her acts or
omissions or for some other reason, the shareholder or former shareholder (or
his or her heirs, executors, administrators or other legal representatives or,
in the case of a corporation or other entity, its corporate or other general
successor) shall be entitled to be held harmless from and indemnified against
all loss and expense arising from such liability. Thus, the risk of a
shareholder's incurring financial loss on account of shareholder liability is
limited to circumstances in which the Trust would be unable to meet its
obligations.

We understand that this opinion is to be used in connection with the
registration of an indefinite number of Shares for offering and sale pursuant to
the Act. We consent to the filing of this opinion with and as part of your
Registration Statement on Form N-1A relating to such offering and sale.

Very truly yours,


/s/ Ropes & Gray LLP
-------------------------------------
Ropes & Gray LLP

                                                                      SCHEDULE A

Columbia International Stock Fund
Columbia Tax-Managed Growth Fund
Columbia Federal Securities Fund
Columbia Strategic Income Fund
Columbia Intermediate Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
Columbia Tax-Exempt Fund
Columbia California Tax-Exempt Fund