Exhibit 12(b)

                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Laura F. Fergerson, Chief Executive Officer of the FRANKLIN FEDERAL TAX-FREE
INCOME FUND (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

     1.   The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
          ended 10/31/2009 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
          requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934; and

     2.   The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Registrant.

Dated: 12/28/2009


                                        S\ LAURA F. FERGERSON

                                        Laura F. Fergerson
                                        Chief Executive Officer -
                                        Finance and Administration




                                                                   Exhibit 12(b)



                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Gaston Gardey, Chief Financial Officer of the FRANKLIN FEDERAL TAX-FREE
INCOME FUND (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

     1.   The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
          ended 10/31/2009 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
          requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934; and

     2.   The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Registrant.

Dated: 12/28/2009


                                        S\ GASTON GARDEY

                                        Gaston Gardey
                                        Chief Financial Officer and
                                        Chief Accounting Officer