485BPOS 1 tebf485b.htm THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA

SEC. File Nos. 002-49291

811-02421

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________

FORM N-1A

Registration Statement

Under

the Securities Act of 1933

Post-Effective Amendment No. 50

and

Registration Statement

Under

the Investment Company Act of 1940

Amendment No. 50

____________

THE TAX-EXEMPT BOND FUND OF AMERICA

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071-1447

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(213) 486-9200

____________

COURTNEY R. TAYLOR, Secretary

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071-1447

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

____________

Copies to:

Michael Glazer

Bingham McCutchen LLP

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4400

Los Angeles, CA 90071-3106

(Counsel for the Registrant)

____________

Approximate date of proposed public offering:

It is proposed that this filing become effective on October 1, 2013, pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485.

American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund^®
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America^®
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America^®
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund^®
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York^®
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California^®

Prospectus

October 1, 2013

F und	Class A	B	C	F-1	F-2
American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund	ASTEX	N/A	N/A	FSTTX	ASTFX
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America	LTEBX	LTXBX	LTXCX	LTXFX	LTEFX
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America	AFTEX	TEBFX	TEBCX	AFTFX	TEAFX
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund	AMHIX	ABHMX	AHICX	ABHFX	AHMFX
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York	NYAAX	NYABX	NYACX	NYAEX	NYAFX
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California	TAFTX	TECBX	TECCX	TECFX	TEFEX

Table of contents
Summaries
American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund			1
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America			7
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America			13
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund			19
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York			26
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California			33
Investment objectives, strategies and risks			40
Management and organization			48
Shareholder information			52
Purchase, exchange and sale of shares			53
How to sell shares			56
Distributions and taxes			59
Choosing a share class			61
Sales charges			62
Sales charge reductions and waivers			64
Rollovers from retirement plans to IRAs			67
Plans of distribution			68
Other compensation to dealers			69
Fund expenses			70
Financial highlights			71
Appendix			83

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of these securities. Further, it has not determined that this prospectus is accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund

Investment objective

The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with current income exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with the maturity and quality standards described in this prospectus, and to preserve capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $500,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the “Sales charge reductions and waivers” section on page 64 of the prospectus and on page 71 of the fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share classes
	A	F-1 and F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	2.50%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00*	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share classes
	A	F-1	F-2
Management fees	0.37%	0.37%	0.37%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.15	0.25	none
Other expenses	0.07	0.22	0.19
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.59	0.84	0.56

A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 1

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
A	$309	$434	$571	$ 969
F-1	86	268	466	1,037
F-2	57	179	313	701

Portfolio turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 22% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated AA- or better or Aa3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. The fund’s aggregate portfolio will have a dollar-weighted average maturity no greater than three years.

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio managers in managing the fund’s assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual managers who decide how their respective segments will be invested.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 2

adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund’s principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Market conditions — The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds — Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a debt security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is broadly gauged by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support — Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline.

Investing in similar municipal bonds — Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund’s share price may increase.

Management — The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund’s investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 3

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund’s investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund’s objective and/or strategies. The results below and on the following page for certain periods shown reflect the operation of the fund as a money market fund prior to its conversion on August 7, 2009 to a short-term tax-exempt bond fund. Accordingly, results for such periods are not representative of the fund’s results had the fund been operated as a short-term tax-exempt bond fund during the entire period. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund’s investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 4

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years
A − Before taxes	10/24/1989	–0.88%	1.11%	1.47%
− After taxes on distributions		–0.88	1.11	1.47
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		–0.12	1.11	1.47

Share classes (before taxes)	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
F-1	8/27/09	1.42%	N/A	N/A	1.91%
F-2	8/12/09	1.69	N/A	N/A	2.14

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years
Barclays Municipal Short 1-5 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	1.73%	3.58%	N/A
Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	1.38	2.18	2.16%
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 0.38% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Brenda S. Ellerin President	4 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Neil L. Langberg Senior Vice President	4 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 5

Purchase and sale of fund shares

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $250 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

If you are a retail investor, you may sell (redeem) shares through your dealer or financial advisor or by writing to American Funds Service Company® at P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6007; telephoning American Funds Service Company at (800) 421-4225; faxing American Funds Service Company at (888) 421-4351; or accessing our website at americanfunds.com.

Tax information

Fund distributions of interest on municipal bonds are generally not subject to federal income tax. However, the fund may distribute taxable dividends, including distributions of short-term capital gains, which are subject to federal taxation as ordinary income. To the extent the fund is permitted to invest in bonds subject to federal alternative minimum tax, interest on certain bonds may be subject to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund’s distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains for federal income tax purposes.

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund and the fund’s distributor or its affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your individual financial advisor to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your individual financial advisor or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 6

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

Investment objective

The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with current income that is exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with the maturity and quality standards described in this prospectus, and to preserve capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1 and F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	2.50%	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00^*	5.00%	1.00%	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1	F-2
Management fees	0.24%	0.24%	0.24%	0.24%	0.24%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.30	1.00	1.00	0.25	none
Other expenses	0.06	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.18
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.60	1.29	1.34	0.69	0.42

A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 7

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
A	$310	$437	$576	$ 981
B	631	809	908	1,366
C	236	425	734	1,613
F-1	70	221	384	859
F-2	43	135	235	530

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
B	$131	$409	$708	$1,366
C	136	425	734	1,613

Principal investment strategies

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax.

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds rated BBB and Baa by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund’s portfolio is between three and 10 years.

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 8

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund’s portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.

Principal risks

Investing in bonds Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a debt security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund's investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 9

Investing in lower rated bonds — Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty.

Investment results

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 10

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
A − Before taxes	10/6/1993	1.24%	4.02%	3.55%	4.41%
− After taxes on distributions		1.23	4.02	3.55	N/A
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		1.72	3.88	3.49	N/A

Share classes (before taxes)	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
B	3/15/2000	–1.91%	3.48%	3.24%	4.07%
C	3/15/2001	2.04	3.77	3.03	3.43
F-1	3/15/2001	3.74	4.51	3.77	4.06
F-2	8/18/2008	4.01	N/A	N/A	5.03

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime (from Class A inception)
Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	3.07%	4.84%	4.07%	4.75%
Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	5.09	4.84	3.93	4.67
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 1.20% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Brenda S. Ellerin President	17 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Neil L. Langberg Senior Vice President	20 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 11

Purchase and sale of fund shares

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $250 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

If you are a retail investor, you may sell (redeem) shares through your dealer or financial advisor or by writing to American Funds Service Company at P.O. Box 6007, Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6007; telephoning American Funds Service Company at (800) 421-4225; faxing American Funds Service Company at (888) 421-4351; or accessing our website at americanfunds.com.

Tax information

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 12

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

Investment objective

The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. In 2013, the fund changed its fiscal year-end from August 31 to July 31. The expenses shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table below are annualized. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the “Sales charge reductions and waivers” section on page 64 of the prospectus and on page 71 of the fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1 and F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00*	5.00%	1.00%	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1	F-2
Management fees	0.24%	0.24%	0.24%	0.24%	0.24%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.25	1.00	1.00	0.25	none
Other expenses	0.06	0.06	0.10	0.19	0.18
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.55	1.30	1.34	0.68	0.42

A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 13

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
A	$429	$545	$671	$1,038
B	632	812	913	1,361
C	236	425	734	1,613
F-1	69	218	379	847
F-2	43	135	235	530

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
B	$132	$412	$713	$1,361
C	136	425	734	1,613

Portfolio turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s investment results. During the eleven-month period ended July 31, 2013, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in municipal bonds.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund will not invest in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests substantially in debt securities rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt securities rated BBB+ or below and Baa1 or below (including those rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below) by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.” Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same type of projects or industries.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 14

Principal risks

Investing in bonds — Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a debt security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support — Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 15

Investment results

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 16

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
A − Before taxes	10/3/1979	4.81%	4.77%	4.33%	6.86%
− After taxes on distributions		4.81	4.77	4.33	N/A
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		4.39	4.64	4.27	N/A

Share classes (before taxes)	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
B	3/15/2000	3.11%	4.46%	4.10%	4.96%
C	3/15/2001	7.06	4.74	3.87	4.25
F-1	3/15/2001	8.79	5.47	4.62	4.88
F-2	8/1/2008	9.07	N/A	N/A	6.51

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime (from Class A inception)
Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	6.78%	5.91%	5.10 %	N/A
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	8.84	5.31	4.43	6.74%
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 2.62% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Neil L. Langberg President	34 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Brenda S. Ellerin Senior Vice President	15 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Karl J. Zeile Vice President and Trustee	10 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 17

Purchase and sale of fund shares

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $250 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

Tax information

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 18

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund

Investment objective

The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal income tax.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the “Sales charge reductions and waivers” section on page 64 of the prospectus and on page 71 of the fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1 and F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00^*	5.00%	1.00%	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1	F-2
Management fees	0.32%	0.32%	0.32%	0.32%	0.32%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.27	1.00	1.00	0.25	none
Other expenses	0.10	0.10	0.14	0.22	0.20
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.69	1.42	1.46	0.79	0.52

A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 19

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
A	$443	$587	$745	$1,201
B	645	849	976	1,503
C	249	462	797	1,746
F-1	81	252	439	978
F-2	53	167	291	653

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
B	$145	$449	$776	$1,503
C	149	462	797	1,746

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 20

Principal investment strategies

In seeking to achieve its objective, the fund may forego opportunities that would result in capital gains and may accept prudent risks to capital value, in each case to take advantage of opportunities for higher current income.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limitation, in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal bonds rated BBB+ or below or Baa1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.” Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 21

Principal risks

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 22

Investment results

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 23

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
A − Before taxes	9/26/1994	9.89%	4.75%	4.57%	5.61%
− After taxes on distributions		9.89	4.75	4.57	N/A
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		8.01	4.70	4.56	N/A

Share classes (before taxes)	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
B	3/15/2000	8.37%	4.44%	4.37%	4.92%
C	3/15/2001	12.31	4.72	4.15	4.36
F-1	3/19/2001	14.10	5.46	4.90	4.99
F-2	8/12/2008	14.39	N/A	N/A	7.01

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime (from Class A inception)
Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	6.78%	5.91%	5.10%	6.03%
Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	18.14	6.15	7.08	N/A
Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	14.13	4.83	4.86	5.37
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 3.88% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Karl J. Zeile President and Trustee	9 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Neil L. Langberg Senior Vice President	19 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Chad M. Rach	2 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 24

Purchase and sale of fund shares

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $250 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

Tax information

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 25

American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York

Investment objectives

The fund’s primary investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal, New York state and New York City income taxes. Its secondary objective is preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the “Sales charge reductions and waivers” section on page 64 of the prospectus and on page 71 of the fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1 and F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00¹	5.00%	1.00%	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1	F-2
Management fees	0.35%	0.35%	0.35%	0.35%	0.35%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.13	1.00	1.00	0.20	none
Other expenses	0.18	0.18	0.23	0.31	0.29
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.66	1.53	1.58	0.86	0.64
Expense reimbursement²	0.07	0.07	0.08	0.07	0.07
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement	0.59	1.46	1.50	0.79	0.57

A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

The investment adviser is currently reimbursing a portion of the other expenses. The reimbursement will be in effect at least through September 30, 2014. The adviser may elect at its discretion to extend, modify or terminate the reimbursement at that time.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 26

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
A	$433	$572	$ 722	$1,160
B	649	877	1,028	1,582
C	253	491	853	1,872
F-1	81	267	470	1,054
F-2	58	198	350	792

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
B	$149	$477	$828	$1,582
C	153	491	853	1,872

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 27

Principal investment strategies

The fund seeks to achieve its objectives by primarily investing in municipal bonds issued by the state of New York and its agencies and municipalities. Consistent with the fund’s objectives, the fund may also invest in municipal securities that are issued by jurisdictions outside New York. Municipal bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of public facilities. The fund may also invest in bonds exempt from federal and state taxation that are used to fund private projects.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal, New York state and New York City income taxes and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund is intended primarily for taxable residents of New York.

The fund will invest primarily in debt securities rated BBB- or better or Baa3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Such securities are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.” Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 28

Principal risks

Risks of investing in municipal bonds of issuers within the state of New York — Because the fund invests primarily in securities of issuers within the state of New York, the fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of New York securities than a comparable municipal bond mutual fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single state. For example, such factors may include political policy changes, tax base erosion, state constitutional limits on tax increases, budget deficits and other financial or economic difficulties, and changes in the credit ratings assigned to New York’s municipal issuers. New York’s economy and finances may be especially vulnerable to changes in the performance of the financial services sector, which historically has been volatile. More detailed information about the risks of investing in New York municipal securities is contained in the statement of additional information.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 29

Investing in lower rated bonds — Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.

Investment results

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 30

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
A − Before taxes	11/1/2010	4.19%	N/A	N/A	5.20%
− After taxes on distributions		4.19	N/A	N/A	5.20
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		3.76	N/A	N/A	4.86

Share classes (before taxes)	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
B	11/1/2010	2.34%	N/A	N/A	4.46%
C	11/1/2010	6.28	N/A	N/A	6.17
F -1	11/1/2010	8.07	N/A	N/A	6.92
F -2	11/1/2010	8.30	N/A	N/A	7.17

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime (from Class A inception)
Barclays New York Municipal Funds Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	6.21%	5.78%	N/A	5.58%
Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	7.87	5.11	4.39%	5.68
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 2.29% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Karl J. Zeile President and Trustee	3 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Jerome Solomon Vice President	1 year	Vice President - Fixed Income, Capital Research Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 31

Purchase and sale of fund shares

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $1,000 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

Tax information

It is anticipated that federally exempt-interest dividends paid by the fund and derived from interest on bonds exempt from New York income tax will also be exempt from New York state and local income taxes. To the extent the fund’s dividends are derived from interest on debt obligations not exempt from New York income tax, such dividends will be subject to New York state and local income taxes. Moreover, any federally taxable dividends and capital gain distributions may also be subject to state and local taxes.

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 32

The Tax-Exempt Fund of California

Investment objectives

The fund’s primary investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal and California state income taxes. Its secondary objective is preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1 and F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00*	5.00%	1.00%	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share classes
	A	B	C	F-1	F-2
Management fees	0.32%	0.32%	0.32%	0.32%	0.32%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.25	1.00	1.00	0.25	none
Other expenses	0.06	0.05	0.10	0.20	0.19
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.63	1.37	1.42	0.77	0.51

A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 33

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
A	$437	$569	$713	$1,132
B	639	834	950	1,443
C	245	449	776	1,702
F-1	79	246	428	954
F-2	52	164	285	640

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Share classes	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
B	$139	$434	$750	$1,443
C	145	449	776	1,702

Portfolio turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s investment results. During the eleven-month period ended July 31, 2013, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 12% of the average value of its portfolio.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 34

Principal investment strategies

The fund seeks to achieve its objectives by primarily investing in municipal bonds issued by the state of California and its agencies and municipalities. Consistent with the fund’s objectives, the fund may also invest in municipal securities that are issued by jurisdictions outside California. Municipal bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of public facilities. The fund may also invest in bonds exempt from federal and state taxation that are used to fund private projects.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from both regular federal and California income taxes and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund is intended primarily for taxable residents of California.

The fund will invest primarily in debt securities rated BBB- or better or Baa3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Such securities are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.” Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 35

Principal risks

Risks of investing in municipal bonds of issuers within the state of California — Because the fund invests primarily in securities of issuers within the state of California, the fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of California securities than a comparable municipal bond mutual fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single state. For example, in the past, California voters have passed amendments to the state’s constitution and other measures that limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental entities, and future voter initiatives may adversely affect California municipal bonds. More detailed information about the risks of investing in California municipal securities is contained in the statement of additional information.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 36

Investment results

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 37

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
A − Before taxes	10/28/1986	5.84%	5.22%	4.45%	5.80%
− After taxes on distributions		5.84	5.22	4.45	N/A
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		5.14	5.04	4.38	N/A

Share classes (before taxes)	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
B	3/15/2000	4.15%	4.91%	4.23%	4.99%
C	3/19/2001	8.10	5.19	4.00	4.23
F-1	3/20/2001	9.83	5.92	4.75	4.87
F-2	8/22/2008	10.12	N/A	N/A	7.10

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime (from Class A inception)
Barclays California Municipal Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	8.15%	6.10%	5.29%	N/A
Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	10.22	5.51	4.55	5.93%
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 3.16% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Neil L. Langberg President	27 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Karl J. Zeile Vice President and Trustee	10 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 38

Purchase and sale of fund shares

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $1,000 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

Tax information

It is anticipated that federally exempt-interest dividends paid by the fund and derived from interest on bonds exempt from California income tax will also be exempt from California state and local income taxes. To the extent the fund’s dividends are derived from interest on debt obligations not exempt from California income tax, such dividends will be subject to California state and local income taxes. Moreover, any federally taxable dividends and capital gain distributions may also be subject to state and local taxes.

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 39

Investment objectives, strategies and risks

Except where the context indicates otherwise, references to the “fund” apply to each of these tax-exempt bond funds.

American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with current income exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with the maturity and quality standards described in this prospectus, and to preserve capital. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax.

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated AA- or better or Aa3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. The fund’s aggregate portfolio will have a dollar-weighted average maturity no greater than three years.

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with current income exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with the maturity and quality standards described in this prospectus, and to preserve capital. The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds. The fund is designed for investors seeking current income exempt from federal income tax. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax.

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds rated BBB and Baa by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund’s portfolio is between three and 10 years.

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital. The fund is designed for investors seeking a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax. The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in municipal bonds.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 40

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund will not invest in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests substantially in debt securities rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt securities rated BBB+ or below and Baa1 or below (including those rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below) by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.”

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund is designed for investors who are able to tolerate greater credit risk and price fluctuations than investors in funds with higher quality portfolios. In seeking to achieve its objective, the fund may forego opportunities that would result in capital gains and may accept prudent risks to capital value, in each case to take advantage of opportunities for higher current income.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limitation, in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal bonds rated BBB+ or below or Baa1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.”

American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York The fund’s primary investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal, New York state and New York City income taxes. Its secondary objective is preservation of capital. The fund seeks to achieve these objectives by primarily investing in municipal bonds issued by the state of New York and its agencies and municipalities. Consistent with the fund’s objectives, the fund may also invest in municipal securities that are issued by jurisdictions outside of New York (including territories and Commonwealths of the United States). The fund is designed for investors seeking income exempt from federal, New York state and New York City income taxes and capital preservation over the long term, and is intended primarily for taxable residents of New York.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 41

Because the fund invests primarily in securities of issuers within the state of New York, the fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of New York securities than a comparable municipal bond mutual fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single state. For example, such factors may include political policy changes, tax base erosion, state constitutional limits on tax increases, budget deficits and other financial or economic difficulties, and changes in the credit ratings assigned to New York’s municipal issuers. New York’s economy and finances may be especially vulnerable to changes in the performance of the financial services sector, which historically has been volatile. More detailed information about the risks of investing in New York municipal securities is contained in the statement of additional information.

The Tax-Exempt Fund of California The fund’s primary investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal and California state income taxes. Its secondary objective is preservation of capital. The fund seeks to achieve these objectives by primarily investing in municipal bonds issued by the state of California and its agencies and municipalities. Consistent with the fund’s objectives, the fund may also invest in municipal securities that are issued by jurisdictions outside California (including territories and Commonwealths of the United States). The fund is designed for investors seeking income exempt from federal and California income taxes and capital preservation over the long term, and is intended primarily for taxable residents of California.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 42

guarantees and letters of credit. Securities that are not general obligations of the state or are obligations of issuers in other jurisdictions may have lower ratings than general obligations of the state.

Because the fund invests primarily in securities of issuers within the state of California, the fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of California securities than a comparable municipal bond mutual fund that does not concentrate its investments in a single state. For example, in the past, California voters have passed amendments to the state’s constitution and other measures that limit the taxing and spending authority of California governmental entities, and future voter initiatives may adversely affect California municipal bonds. More detailed information about the risks of investing in California municipal securities is contained in the statement of additional information.

Applicable to all funds

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or engaged in the same types of projects or industries.

Municipal bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of public facilities. Each fund other than The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America may also invest in bonds exempt from federal and state taxation that are used to fund private projects.

The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline in response to certain events taking place around the world, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund; conditions affecting the general economy; overall market changes; local, regional or global political, social or economic instability; governmental or governmental agency responses to economic conditions; and currency, interest rate and commodity price fluctuations.

The prices of, and the income generated by, most bonds and other debt securities held by the fund may be affected by changing interest rates and by changes in the effective maturities and credit ratings of these securities. For example, the prices of debt securities in the fund’s portfolio generally will decline when interest rates rise and increase when interest rates fall.

In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a debt security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Longer maturity debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are also subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Lower quality debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and may be subject to greater price fluctuations than higher quality debt securities. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

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Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline.

Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.

There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

To the extent the fund invests significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or of similar project type, the fund may be more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund’s share price may increase.

A bond’s effective maturity is the market’s trading assessment of its maturity and represents an estimate of the most likely time period during which an investor in that bond will receive payment of principal. For example, as market interest rates decline, issuers may exercise call provisions that shorten the bond’s effective maturity. Conversely, if interest rates rise, effective maturities tend to lengthen. A portfolio’s dollar-weighted average maturity is the weighted average of all effective maturities in the portfolio, where more weight is given to larger holdings.

The fund’s investment adviser attempts to reduce these risks through diversification of the portfolio and ongoing credit analysis, as well as by monitoring economic and legislative developments, but there can be no assurance that it will be successful at doing so.

The fund may also hold cash or money market instruments, including commercial paper and short-term securities issued by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities. The percentage of the fund invested in such holdings varies and depends on various factors, including market conditions and purchases and redemptions of fund shares. For temporary defensive purposes, the fund may invest without limitation in such instruments. The investment adviser may determine that it is appropriate to invest substantially in such instruments in response to certain circumstances, such as periods of market turmoil. A larger percentage of such holdings could moderate the fund’s investment results in a period of rising market prices.

A larger percentage of cash or money market instruments could reduce the magnitude of the fund’s loss in a period of falling market prices and provide liquidity to make additional investments or to meet redemptions.

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The fund (other than The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America) may invest in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. Therefore, while the fund’s distributions from tax-exempt securities are not subject to regular federal income tax, a portion or all of the distributions may be included in determining a shareholder’s federal alternative minimum tax.

The fund’s investment results will depend on the ability of the fund’s investment adviser to navigate the risks discussed above.

In addition to the investment strategies described above, the fund has other investment practices that are described in the statement of additional information, which includes a description of certain risks associated with those practices.

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Fund comparative indexes The investment results tables in this prospectus show how the fund’s average annual total returns compare with various broad measures of market results.

American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund The Barclays Municipal Short 1–5 Years Index is a market-value-weighted index that includes investment-grade tax-exempt bonds with maturities of one to five years. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes. This index began on July 31, 2005; therefore, results covering periods prior to that date are not shown. The Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average is composed of funds that invest in municipal debt issues with dollar-weighted average maturities of less than three years. The results of the underlying funds in the average include reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, as well as brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions and other fund expenses, but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes.

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America The Barclays Municipal Short Intermediate 1-10 Years Index is a market-value-weighted index that includes investment-grade tax-exempt bonds with maturities of one to 10 years. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes. The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average is composed of funds that invest in municipal debt issues with dollar-weighted average maturities of five to 10 years. The results of the underlying funds in the average include reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, as well as brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions and other fund expenses, but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes.

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America The Barclays Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index designed to represent the long-term investment-grade tax-exempt bond market. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes. This index was not in existence when the fund’s Class A shares became available; therefore, lifetime results are not shown. The Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average is composed of funds that invest in municipal debt issues in the top four credit rating categories. The results of the underlying funds in the average include reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, as well as brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions and other fund expenses, but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes.

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American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund The Barclays Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index designed to represent the long-term investment-grade tax-exempt bond market. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes. The Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes. This index was not in existence as of the date the fund’s Class A shares became available; therefore, lifetime results are not shown. The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average is composed of funds that invest at least 50% of their assets in lower rated municipal debt issues. The results of the underlying funds in the average include reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, as well as brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions and other fund expenses, but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes.

American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York The Barclays New York Municipal Index is a market-value-weighted index that includes only investment-grade tax-exempt bonds of issuers within the state of New York. This index is unmanaged, and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes. The Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average is composed of funds that limit their assets to those securities that provide income that is exempt from taxation in New York. The results of the underlying funds in the average include reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, as well as brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions and other fund expenses, but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes.

The Tax-Exempt Fund of California The Barclays California Municipal Index is a market-value-weighted index that includes only investment-grade tax-exempt bonds of issuers within the state of California. This index is unmanaged and its results include reinvested distributions but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, commissions, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes. This index was not in existence when the fund’s Class A shares became available; therefore, lifetime results are not shown. The Lipper California Municipal Debt Funds Average is composed of funds that limit their assets to those securities that provide income that is exempt from taxation in California. The results of the underlying funds in the average include reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, as well as brokerage commissions paid by the funds for portfolio transactions and other fund expenses, but do not reflect the effect of sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes.

Fund results All fund results in this prospectus reflect the reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions, if any. Unless otherwise noted, fund results reflect any fee waivers and/or expense reimbursements in effect during the periods presented.

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Management and organization

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company, an experienced investment management organization founded in 1931, serves as the investment adviser to the fund and other funds, including the American Funds. Capital Research and Management Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies, Inc. and is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071. Capital Research and Management Company manages the investment portfolio and business affairs of the fund. The total management fee paid by the fund, as a percentage of average net assets, for the previous fiscal year appears in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables under “Fees and expenses of the fund.” The management fee for the fund is based on the daily net assets of the fund and the fund’s monthly gross investment income. Please see the statement of additional information for further details. A discussion regarding the basis for approval of the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreements by the fund’s board of trustees is contained in the fund’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2013.

Capital Research and Management Company manages equity assets through three equity investment divisions and fixed-income assets through its fixed-income division. The three equity investment divisions — Capital World Investors, Capital Research Global Investors and Capital International Investors — make investment decisions on an independent basis.

The equity investment divisions may, in the future, be incorporated as wholly owned subsidiaries of Capital Research and Management Company. In that event, Capital Research and Management Company would continue to be the investment adviser, and day-to-day investment management of equity assets would continue to be carried out through one or more of these subsidiaries. Although not currently contemplated, Capital Research and Management Company could incorporate its fixed-income division in the future and engage it to provide day-to-day investment management of fixed-income assets. Capital Research and Management Company and each of the funds it advises have received an exemptive order from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that allows Capital Research and Management Company to use, upon approval of the fund’s board, its management subsidiaries and affiliates to provide day-to-day investment management services to the fund, including making changes to the management subsidiaries and affiliates providing such services. The fund’s shareholders have approved this arrangement; however, there is no assurance that Capital Research and Management Company will incorporate its investment divisions or exercise any authority granted to it under the exemptive order.

Portfolio holdings Portfolio holdings information for the fund is available on the American Funds website at americanfunds.com. A description of the fund’s policies and procedures regarding disclosure of information about its portfolio holdings is available in the statement of additional information.

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The Capital System^SM Capital Research and Management Company uses a system of multiple portfolio managers in managing mutual fund assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of a fund is divided into segments managed by individual managers who decide how their respective segments will be invested. In addition, Capital Research and Management Company’s investment analysts may make investment decisions with respect to a portion of a fund’s portfolio. Investment decisions are subject to a fund’s objective(s), policies and restrictions and the oversight of the appropriate investment-related committees of Capital Research and Management Company and its investment divisions. The table below shows the investment experience and role in management of the fund for the fund’s primary portfolio managers.

Portfolio manager	Investment experience	Experience in this fund	Role in management of the fund
Brenda S. Ellerin	Investment professional for 24 years in total; 22 years with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund		4 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		17 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		15 years (plus 6 years of prior experience as an investment analyst for the fund)	Serves as a municipal bond portfolio manager

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Portfolio manager	Investment experience	Experience in this fund	Role in management of the fund
Neil L. Langberg	Investment professional for 37 years, all with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund		4 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		20 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		34 years	Serves as a municipal bond portfolio manager
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund		19 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California		27 years	Serves as a municipal bond portfolio manager
Chad M. Rach	Investment professional for 20 years in total; 9 years with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund		2 years (plus 6 years of prior experience as an analyst for the fund)	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
Jerome Solomon	Investment professional for 21 years in total; 5 years with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York		1 year	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager

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Portfolio manager	Investment experience	Experience in this fund	Role in management of the fund
Karl J. Zeile	Investment professional for 22 years in total; 14 years with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund		9 years (plus 5 years of prior experience as an investment analyst for the fund)	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		10 years (plus 4 years of prior experience as an investment analyst for the fund)	Serves as a municipal bond portfolio manager
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York		3 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
The Tax-Exempt Fund of California		10 years	Serves as a municipal bond portfolio manager

Information regarding the portfolio managers’ compensation, their ownership of securities in the fund and other accounts they manage is in the statement of additional information.

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Certain privileges and/or services described on the following pages of this prospectus and in the statement of additional information may not be available to you, depending on your investment dealer. Please see your financial advisor or investment dealer for more information.

Shareholder information

Shareholder services American Funds Service Company, the fund’s transfer agent, offers a wide range of services that you can use to alter your investment program should your needs or circumstances change. These services may be terminated or modified at any time upon 60 days’ written notice.

A more detailed description of policies and services is included in the fund’s statement of additional information and the owner’s guide sent to new American Funds shareholders entitled Welcome. These documents are available by writing to or calling American Funds Service Company.

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Purchase, exchange and sale of shares

The fund reserves the right not to make its shares available to tax-deferred retirement plans and accounts. American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California are intended primarily for taxable residents of New York and California, respectively, and may not be appropriate for residents of other states and tax-exempt entities.

The fund’s transfer agent, on behalf of the fund and American Funds Distributors,®the fund’s distributor, is required by law to obtain certain personal information from you or any other person(s) acting on your behalf in order to verify your or such person’s identity. If you do not provide the information, the transfer agent may not be able to open your account. If the transfer agent is unable to verify your identity or that of any other person(s) authorized to act on your behalf, or believes it has identified potentially criminal activity, the fund and American Funds Distributors reserve the right to close your account or take such other action they deem reasonable or required by law.

When purchasing shares, you should designate the fund or funds in which you wish to invest. Subject to the exception below, if no fund is designated, your money will be held uninvested (without liability to the transfer agent for loss of income or appreciation pending receipt of proper instructions) until investment instructions are received, but for no more than three business days. Your investment will be made at the net asset value (plus any applicable sales charge, in the case of Class A shares) next determined after investment instructions are received and accepted by the transfer agent. If investment instructions are not received, your money will be invested in Class A shares of American Funds Money Market Fund® on the third business day after receipt of your investment.

If the amount of your cash investment is $10,000 or less, no fund is designated, and you made a cash investment (excluding exchanges) within the last 16 months, your money will be invested in the same proportion and in the same fund or funds and in the same class of shares in which your last cash investment was made.

Different procedures may apply to certain employer-sponsored arrangements, including, but not limited to, SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs.

Valuing shares The net asset value of each share class of the fund is the value of a single share of that class. The fund calculates the net asset value each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading as of approximately 4 p.m. New York time, the normal close of regular trading. If, for example, the New York Stock Exchange closes at 1 p.m. New York time, the fund’s net asset value would still be determined as of 4 p.m. New York time. In this example, portfolio securities traded on the New York Stock Exchange would be valued at their closing prices unless the investment adviser determines that a “fair value” adjustment is appropriate due to subsequent events. Assets are valued primarily on the basis of market quotations. However, the fund has adopted procedures for making fair value determinations if market quotations are not readily available or are not considered reliable. For example, fair value procedures may be used if an issuer defaults and there is no market for its securities. Use of these procedures is intended to result in more appropriate net asset values.

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Your shares will be purchased at the net asset value (plus any applicable sales charge, in the case of Class A shares) or sold at the net asset value next determined after American Funds Service Company receives your request, provided that your request contains all information and legal documentation necessary to process the transaction. A contingent deferred sales charge may apply at the time you sell certain Class A, B and C shares.

Purchase of Class A and C shares You may generally open an account and purchase Class A and C shares by contacting any financial advisor (who may impose transaction charges in addition to those described in this prospectus) authorized to sell the fund’s shares. You may purchase additional shares in various ways, including through your financial advisor and by mail, telephone, the Internet and bank wire.

Class C shares are not offered by American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund at this time.

Purchase of Class F shares Unless otherwise noted, references in this prospectus to Class F shares refer to both Class F-1 and F-2 shares.

You may generally open an account and purchase Class F shares only through fee-based programs of investment dealers that have special agreements with the fund’s distributor, through certain registered investment advisors and through other intermediaries approved by the fund’s distributor. These intermediaries typically charge ongoing fees for services they provide. Intermediary fees are not paid by the fund and normally range from .75% to 1.50% of assets annually, depending on the services offered.

Class B shares Class B shares may not be purchased or acquired, except by exchange from Class B shares of another fund in the American Funds family. Any other investment received by the fund that is intended for Class B shares will instead be invested in Class A shares and subject to any applicable sales charges.

Shareholders with investments in Class B shares may continue to hold such shares until they convert to Class A shares. However, no additional investments will be accepted in Class B shares. Dividends and capital gain distributions may continue to be reinvested in Class B shares until their conversion dates. In addition, shareholders invested in Class B shares will be able to exchange those shares for Class B shares of other American Funds offering Class B shares until they convert.

Automatic conversion of Class B and C shares Class B shares automatically convert to Class A shares in the month of the eight-year anniversary of the purchase date. Class C shares automatically convert to Class F-1 shares in the month of the 10-year anniversary of the purchase date. The Internal Revenue Service currently takes the position that these automatic conversions are not taxable. Should its position change, the automatic conversion feature may be suspended. If this happens, you would have the option of converting your Class B or C shares to the respective share classes at the anniversary dates described above. This exchange would be based on the relative net asset values of the two classes in question, without the imposition of a sales charge or fee, but you might face certain tax consequences as a result.

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Purchase minimums and maximums Purchase minimums described in this prospectus may be waived in certain cases. In addition, the fund reserves the right to redeem the shares of any shareholder for their then current net asset value per share if the shareholder’s aggregate investment in the fund falls below the fund’s minimum initial investment amount. See the statement of additional information for details.

For accounts established with an automatic investment plan, the initial purchase minimum of $250 (or $1,000 for American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California) may be waived if the purchases (including purchases through exchanges from another fund) made under the plan are sufficient to reach $250 (or $1,000 for American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California) within five months of account establishment.

The purchase maximum for Class C shares is $500,000 per transaction. In addition, if you have significant American Funds holdings, you may not be eligible to invest in Class C shares. Specifically, you may not purchase Class C shares if you are eligible to purchase Class A shares at the $1 million or more sales charge discount rate (that is, at net asset value). See “Sales charge reductions and waivers” in this prospectus and the statement of additional information for more details regarding sales charge discounts.

Exchange Generally, you may exchange your shares for shares of the same class of other American Funds without a sales charge. Exchanges of shares from American Funds Money Market Fund initially purchased without a sales charge generally will be subject to the appropriate sales charge. For purposes of computing the contingent deferred sales charge on Class B and C shares, the length of time you have owned your shares will be measured from the date of original purchase and will not be affected by any permitted exchange.

Exchanges have the same tax consequences as ordinary sales and purchases. For example, to the extent you exchange shares held in a taxable account that are worth more now than what you paid for them, the gain will be subject to taxation.

See “Transactions by telephone, fax or the Internet” in the section “How to sell shares” of this prospectus for information regarding electronic exchanges.

Please see the statement of additional information for details and limitations on moving investments in certain share classes to different share classes and on moving investments held in certain accounts to different accounts.

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How to sell shares

You may sell (redeem) shares in any of the following ways:

Through your dealer or financial advisor (certain charges may apply)

Shares held for you in your dealer’s name must be sold through the dealer.

Generally, Class F shares must be sold through intermediaries such as dealers or financial advisors.

Writing to American Funds Service Company

Requests must be signed by the registered shareholder(s).

A signature guarantee is required if the redemption is:

—

more than $125,000;

—

made payable to someone other than the registered shareholder(s); or

—

sent to an address other than the address of record or to an address of record that has been changed within the previous 10 days.

American Funds Service Company reserves the right to require signature guarantee(s) on any redemption.

Additional documentation may be required for redemptions of shares held in corporate, partnership or fiduciary accounts.

Telephoning or faxing American Funds Service Company or using the Internet

Redemptions by telephone, fax or the Internet (including American FundsLine and americanfunds.com) are limited to $125,000 per American Funds shareholder each day.

Checks must be made payable to the registered shareholder.

Checks must be mailed to an address of record that has been used with the account for at least 10 days.

If you recently purchased shares and subsequently request a redemption of those shares, you will receive proceeds from the redemption once a sufficient period of time has passed to reasonably ensure that checks or drafts, including certified or cashier’s checks, for the shares purchased have cleared (normally 10 business days).

Although payment of redemptions normally will be in cash, the fund’s declaration of trust permits payment of the redemption price wholly or partly with portfolio securities or other fund assets under conditions and circumstances determined by the fund’s board of trustees.

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Transactions by telephone, fax or the Internet Generally, you are automatically eligible to redeem or exchange shares by telephone, fax or the Internet, unless you notify us in writing that you do not want any or all of these services. You may reinstate these services at any time.

Unless you decide not to have telephone, fax or Internet services on your account(s), you agree to hold each fund, American Funds Service Company, any of its affiliates or mutual funds managed by such affiliates, and each of their respective directors, trustees, officers, employees and agents harmless from any losses, expenses, costs or liabilities (including attorney fees) that may be incurred in connection with the exercise of these privileges, provided that American Funds Service Company employs reasonable procedures to confirm that the instructions received from any person with appropriate account information are genuine. If reasonable procedures are not employed, American Funds Service Company and/or the fund may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.

Frequent trading of fund shares The fund and American Funds Distributors reserve the right to reject any purchase order for any reason. The fund is not designed to serve as a vehicle for frequent trading. Frequent trading of fund shares may lead to increased costs to the fund and less efficient management of the fund’s portfolio, potentially resulting in dilution of the value of the shares held by long-term shareholders. Accordingly, purchases, including those that are part of exchange activity, that the fund or American Funds Distributors has determined could involve actual or potential harm to the fund may be rejected.

The fund, through its transfer agent, American Funds Service Company, maintains surveillance procedures that are designed to detect frequent trading in fund shares. Under these procedures, various analytics are used to evaluate factors that may be indicative of frequent trading. For example, transactions in fund shares that exceed certain monetary thresholds may be scrutinized. American Funds Service Company also may review transactions that occur close in time to other transactions in the same account or in multiple accounts under common ownership or influence. Trading activity that is identified through these procedures or as a result of any other information available to the fund will be evaluated to determine whether such activity might constitute frequent trading. These procedures may be modified from time to time as appropriate to improve the detection of frequent trading, to facilitate monitoring for frequent trading in particular retirement plans or other accounts and to comply with applicable laws.

In addition to the fund’s broad ability to restrict potentially harmful trading as described above, the fund’s board of trustees has adopted a “purchase blocking policy” under which any shareholder redeeming shares having a value of $5,000 or more from a fund will be precluded from investing in that fund for 30 calendar days after the redemption transaction. This policy also applies to redemptions and purchases that are part of exchange transactions. Under the fund’s purchase blocking policy, certain purchases will not be prevented and certain redemptions will not trigger a purchase block, such as:

purchases and redemptions of shares having a value of less than $5,000;

purchases and redemptions by investment companies managed or sponsored by the fund’s investment adviser or its affiliates, including reallocations and

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 57

transactions allowing the investment company to meet its redemptions and purchases of shares;

retirement plan contributions, loans and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such on the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system;

purchase transactions involving in-kind transfers of fund shares, rollovers, Roth IRA conversions and IRA recharacterizations, where the entity maintaining the shareholder account is able to identify the transaction as one of these types of transactions; and

systematic redemptions and purchases, where the entity maintaining the shareholder account is able to identify the transaction as a systematic redemption or purchase.

Generally, purchases and redemptions will not be considered “systematic” unless the transaction is prescheduled for a specific date.

The fund reserves the right to waive the purchase blocking policy with respect to specific shareholder accounts in those instances where American Funds Service Company determines that its surveillance procedures are adequate to detect frequent trading in fund shares.

American Funds Service Company will work with certain intermediaries (such as investment dealers holding shareholder accounts in street name, retirement plan recordkeepers, insurance company separate accounts and bank trust companies) to apply their own procedures, provided that American Funds Service Company believes the intermediary’s procedures are reasonably designed to enforce the frequent trading policies of the fund. You should refer to disclosures provided by the intermediaries with which you have an account to determine the specific trading restrictions that apply to you.

If American Funds Service Company identifies any activity that may constitute frequent trading, it reserves the right to contact the intermediary and request that the intermediary either provide information regarding an account owner’s transactions or restrict the account owner’s trading. If American Funds Service Company is not satisfied that the intermediary has taken appropriate action, American Funds Service Company may terminate the intermediary’s ability to transact in fund shares.

There is no guarantee that all instances of frequent trading in fund shares will be prevented.

Notwithstanding the fund’s surveillance procedures and purchase blocking policy described above, all transactions in fund shares remain subject to the right of the fund, American Funds Distributors and American Funds Service Company to restrict potentially abusive trading generally, including the types of transactions described above that will not be prevented or trigger a block under the purchase blocking policy. See the statement of additional information for more information about how American Funds Service Company may address other potentially abusive trading activity in the American Funds.

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Distributions and taxes

Dividends and distributions The fund declares daily dividends from net investment income and distributes the accrued dividends, which may fluctuate, to you each month. Generally, dividends begin accruing on the day payment for shares is received by the fund or American Funds Service Company.

Capital gains, if any, are usually distributed in November or December. When a dividend or capital gain is distributed, the net asset value per share is reduced by the amount of the payment.

You may elect to reinvest dividends and/or capital gain distributions to purchase additional shares of this fund or other American Funds, or you may elect to receive them in cash.

Taxes on dividends and distributions Interest on municipal bonds is generally not included in gross income for federal tax purposes. Subject to certain requirements, the fund is permitted to pass through to its shareholders the interest earned on municipal bonds as federally exempt-interest dividends. Taxable dividends, including distributions of short-term capital gains, however, are subject to federal taxation at the applicable rates for ordinary income. To the extent the fund is permitted to invest in bonds subject to federal alternative minimum tax, interest earned on certain bonds may be treated as income subject to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund’s distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains.

Depending on their state of residence, shareholders of American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund, Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, and American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund may be able to exempt from state taxation some or all of the federally tax-exempt income dividends paid by those funds.

Each of American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California anticipates that the federally exempt interest dividends paid by the applicable fund and derived from interest on bonds exempt from New York and California income tax, respectively, will also be exempt from New York and California state income tax, respectively. To the extent the applicable fund’s dividends are derived from interest on debt obligations that is not exempt from New York or California income tax, however, such dividends will be subject to applicable state income tax.

Moreover, any federally taxable dividends and capital gains distributions from the fund may also be subject to state tax.

Any taxable dividends or capital gain distributions you receive from the fund normally will be taxable to you when made, regardless of whether you reinvest dividends or capital gain distributions or receive them in cash.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 59

Taxes on transactions Your redemptions, including exchanges, may result in a capital gain or loss for federal tax purposes. A capital gain or loss on your investment is the difference between the cost of your shares, including any sales charges, and the amount you receive when you sell them.

Shareholder fees Fees borne directly by the fund normally have the effect of reducing a shareholder’s taxable income on distributions. By contrast, fees paid directly to advisors by a fund shareholder for ongoing advice are deductible for income tax purposes only to the extent that they (combined with certain other qualifying expenses) exceed 2% of such shareholder’s adjusted gross income.

Please see your tax advisor for more information.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 60

Choosing a share class

The fund offers different classes of shares through this prospectus. Shares of the fund are available through various investment programs or accounts. However, tax-exempt funds should generally not serve as investments for tax-deferred retirement plans and accounts. The services or share classes available to you may vary depending upon how you wish to purchase shares of the fund. Since shares of American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund are only available in Class A, F-1 and F-2, references to Class B and C shares are not applicable to American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund.

Each share class of the fund represents an investment in the same portfolio of securities, but each class has its own sales charge and expense structure, allowing you to choose the class that best fits your situation. When you purchase shares of the fund, you should choose a share class. If none is chosen, your investment will be made in Class A shares.

Factors you should consider in choosing a class of shares include:

how long you expect to own the shares;

how much you intend to invest;

total expenses associated with owning shares of each class;

whether you qualify for any reduction or waiver of sales charges (for example, Class A shares may be a less expensive option over time, particularly if you qualify for a sales charge reduction or waiver);

whether you plan to take any distributions in the near future; and

availability of share classes:

—

Class B shares may not be purchased or acquired except by exchange from Class B shares of another fund in the American Funds family;

—

Class C shares are not available to retirement plans that do not currently invest in such shares and that are eligible to invest in Class R shares of the American Funds, including retirement plans established under Internal Revenue Code Sections 401(a) (including 401(k) plans), 403(b) or 457;

—

Class F shares are generally available only to fee-based programs of investment dealers that have special agreements with the fund’s distributor, to certain registered investment advisors and to other intermediaries approved by the fund’s distributor.

Each investor’s financial considerations are different. You should speak with your financial advisor to help you decide which share class is best for you.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 61

Sales charges

Class A shares The initial sales charge you pay each time you buy Class A shares differs depending upon the amount you invest and may be reduced or eliminated for larger purchases as indicated below. The “offering price,” the price you pay to buy shares, includes any applicable sales charge, which will be deducted directly from your investment. Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to an initial sales charge.

Sales charges for The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York and The Tax-Exempt Fund of California

	Sales charge as a percentage of:
Investment	Offering price	Net amount invested	Dealer commission as a percentage of offering price
Less than $100,000	3.75%	3.90%	3.00%
$100,000 but less than $250,000	3.50	3.63	2.75
$250,000 but less than $500,000	2.50	2.56	2.00
$500,000 but less than $750,000	2.00	2.04	1.60
$750,000 but less than $1 million	1.50	1.52	1.20
$1 million or more and certain other investments described below	none	none	see below

Sales charges for American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund and Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

	Sales charge as a percentage of:
Investment	Offering price	Net amount invested	Dealer commission as a percentage of offering price
Less than $500,000	2.50%	2.56%	2.00%
$500,000 but less than $750,000	2.00	2.04	1.60
$750,000 but less than $1 million	1.50	1.52	1.20
$1 million or more and certain other investments described below	none	none	see below

The sales charge, expressed as a percentage of the offering price or the net amount invested, may be higher or lower than the percentages described in the tables above due to rounding. This is because the dollar amount of the sales charge is determined by subtracting the net asset value of the shares purchased from the offering price, which is calculated to two decimal places using standard rounding criteria. The impact of rounding will vary with the size of the investment and the net asset value of the shares. Similarly, any contingent deferred sales charge paid by you on investments in Class A shares may be higher or lower than the 1% charge described below due to rounding.

Except as provided below, investments in Class A shares of $1 million or more may be subject to a 1% contingent deferred sales charge if the shares are sold within one year of purchase. The contingent deferred sales charge is based on the original purchase cost or the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 62

Class A share purchases not subject to sales charge The following investments are not subject to any initial or contingent deferred sales charge if American Funds Service Company is properly notified of the nature of the investment:

investments in Class A shares made by endowments or foundations with $50 million or more in assets;

investments made by accounts that are part of certain qualified fee-based programs and that purchased Class A shares before the discontinuation of the relevant investment dealer’s load-waived Class A share program with the American Funds; and

certain rollover investments from retirement plans to IRAs (see “Rollovers from retirement plans to IRAs” in this prospectus for more information).

The distributor may pay dealers a commission of up to 1% on investments made in Class A shares with no initial sales charge. The fund may reimburse the distributor for these payments through its plans of distribution (see “Plans of distribution” in this prospectus).

Certain other investors may qualify to purchase shares without a sales charge, such as employees of investment dealers and registered investment advisors authorized to sell American Funds, and employees of The Capital Group Companies, Inc. and its affiliates. Please see the statement of additional information for further details.

Class B and C shares For Class B shares, a contingent deferred sales charge may be applied to shares you sell within six years of the date you purchased the Class B shares, as shown in the table below. The contingent deferred sales charge is eliminated six years after purchase.

Contingent deferred sales charge on Class B shares
Year of redemption:	1	2	3	4	5	6	7+
Contingent deferred sales charge:	5%	4%	4%	3%	2%	1%	0%

Class C shares are sold without any initial sales charge. American Funds Distributors pays 1% of the amount invested to dealers who sell Class C shares. A contingent deferred sales charge of 1% applies if Class C shares are sold within one year of purchase. The contingent deferred sales charge is eliminated one year after purchase.

Any contingent deferred sales charge paid by you on sales of Class B or C shares, expressed as a percentage of the applicable redemption amount, may be higher or lower than the percentages described above due to rounding.

Class F shares Class F shares are sold without any initial or contingent deferred sales charge.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 63

Contingent deferred sales charges Shares acquired through reinvestment of dividends or capital gain distributions are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. In addition, the contingent deferred sales charge may be waived in certain circumstances. See “Contingent deferred sales charge waivers” in the section “Sales charge reductions and waivers” of this prospectus. The contingent deferred sales charge is based on the original purchase cost or the current market value of the shares being sold, whichever is less. For purposes of determining the contingent deferred sales charge, if you sell only some of your shares, shares that are not subject to any contingent deferred sales charge will be sold first, followed by shares that you have owned the longest.

Sales charge reductions and waivers

To receive a reduction in your Class A initial sales charge, you must let your financial advisor or American Funds Service Company know at the time you purchase shares that you qualify for such a reduction. If you do not let your advisor or American Funds Service Company know that you are eligible for a reduction, you may not receive the sales charge discount to which you are otherwise entitled. In order to determine your eligibility to receive a sales charge discount, it may be necessary for you to provide your advisor or American Funds Service Company with information and records (including account statements) of all relevant accounts invested in the American Funds.

In addition to the information in this prospectus, you may obtain more information about share classes, sales charges and sales charge reductions and waivers through a link on the home page of the American Funds website at americanfunds.com, from the statement of additional information or from your financial advisor.

Reducing your Class A initial sales charge Consistent with the policies described in this prospectus, you and your “immediate family” (your spouse — or equivalent, if recognized under local law — and your children under the age of 21) may combine all of your American Funds investments to reduce Class A sales charges. Certain investments in the American Funds Target Date Retirement Series,® American Funds Portfolio Series^SM and American Funds College Target Date Series^SM may also be combined for this purpose. Please see the applicable series’ prospectus for further information. However, for this purpose, investments representing direct purchases of American Funds Money Market Fund are excluded. Following are different ways that you may qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge:

Aggregating accounts To receive a reduced Class A sales charge, investments made by you and your immediate family (see above) may be aggregated if made for your own account(s) and/or certain other accounts, such as:

trust accounts established by the above individuals (please see the statement of additional information for details regarding aggregation of trust accounts where the person(s) who established the trust is/are deceased);

solely controlled business accounts; and

single-participant retirement plans.

Concurrent purchases You may combine simultaneous purchases (including, upon your request, purchases for gifts) of any class of shares of two or more

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 64

American Funds (excluding American Funds Money Market Fund) to qualify for a reduced Class A sales charge.

Rights of accumulation You may take into account your accumulated holdings in all share classes of the American Funds (excluding American Funds Money Market Fund) to determine the initial sales charge you pay on each purchase of Class A shares. Subject to your investment dealer’s capabilities, your accumulated holdings will be calculated as the higher of (a) the current value of your existing holdings (as of the day prior to your additional American Funds investment) or (b) the amount you invested (including reinvested dividends and capital gains, but excluding capital appreciation) less any withdrawals. Please see the statement of additional information for further details. You should retain any records necessary to substantiate the historical amounts you have invested.

If you make a gift of shares, upon your request you may purchase the shares at the sales charge discount allowed under rights of accumulation of all of your American Funds accounts.

Statement of intention You may reduce your Class A sales charge by establishing a statement of intention. A statement of intention allows you to combine all purchases of all share classes of the American Funds (excluding American Funds Money Market Fund) that you intend to make over a 13-month period to determine the applicable sales charge; however, purchases made under a right of reinvestment, appreciation of your holdings, and reinvested dividends and capital gains do not count as purchases made during the statement period. Your accumulated holdings (as described and calculated under “Rights of accumulation” above) eligible to be aggregated as of the day immediately before the start of the statement period may be credited toward satisfying the statement. A portion of your account may be held in escrow to cover additional Class A sales charges that may be due if your total purchases over the statement period do not qualify you for the applicable sales charge reduction.

Right of reinvestment If you notify American Funds Service Company, you may reinvest proceeds from a redemption, dividend payment or capital gain distribution without a sales charge in the same fund or other American Funds, provided that the reinvestment occurs within 90 days after the date of the redemption, dividend payment or distribution and is made into the same account from which you redeemed the shares or received the dividend payment or distribution. If the account has been closed, you may reinvest without a sales charge if the new receiving account has the same registration as the closed account and the reinvestment is made within 90 days after the date of redemption, dividend payment or distribution.

Proceeds from a Class B share redemption for which a contingent deferred sales charge was paid will be reinvested in Class A shares without any initial sales charge. If you redeem Class B shares without paying a contingent deferred sales charge, you may reinvest the proceeds in Class B shares or purchase Class A shares. If you purchase Class A shares, you are responsible for paying any applicable Class A sales charges. Proceeds from any other type of redemption and all dividend payments and capital gain distributions will be reinvested in the same share class from which the original redemption, dividend payment or distribution was made. Any contingent deferred sales charge on Class A or C shares will be credited to

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 65

your account. Redemption proceeds of Class A shares representing direct purchases in American Funds Money Market Fund that are reinvested in other American Funds will be subject to a sales charge.

Proceeds will be reinvested at the next calculated net asset value after your request is received by American Funds Service Company, provided that your request contains all information and legal documentation necessary to process the transaction. For purposes of this “right of reinvestment policy,” automatic transactions (including, for example, automatic purchases, withdrawals and payroll deductions) and ongoing retirement plan contributions are not eligible for investment without a sales charge. You may not reinvest proceeds in the American Funds as described in this paragraph if such proceeds are subject to a purchase block as described under “Frequent trading of fund shares” in this prospectus. This paragraph does not apply to certain rollover investments as described under “Rollovers from retirement plans to IRAs” in this prospectus.

Contingent deferred sales charge waivers The contingent deferred sales charge on Class A, B and C shares may be waived in the following cases:

permitted exchanges of shares, except if shares acquired by exchange are then redeemed within the period during which a contingent deferred sales charge would apply to the initial shares purchased;

tax-free returns of excess contributions to IRAs;

redemptions due to death or postpurchase disability of the shareholder (this generally excludes accounts registered in the names of trusts and other entities);

redemptions due to the complete termination of a trust upon the death of the trustor/grantor or beneficiary, but only if such termination is specifically provided for in the trust document; and

the following types of transactions, if together they do not exceed 12% of the value of an account annually (see the statement of additional information for further details about waivers regarding these types of transactions):

—

redemptions due to receiving required minimum distributions from retirement accounts upon reaching age 70½ (required minimum distributions that continue to be taken by the beneficiary(ies) after the account owner is deceased also qualify for a waiver); and

—

if you have established an automatic withdrawal plan, redemptions through such a plan (including any dividends and/or capital gain distributions taken in cash).

To have your Class A, B or C contingent deferred sales charge waived, you must inform your advisor or American Funds Service Company at the time you redeem shares that you qualify for such a waiver.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 66

Rollovers from retirement plans to IRAs

The fund reserves the right not to make its shares available to tax-deferred retirement plans and accounts.

Assets from retirement plans may be invested in Class A, C or F shares through an IRA rollover, subject to the other provisions of this prospectus. Rollovers invested in Class A shares from retirement plans will be subject to applicable sales charges. The following rollovers to Class A shares will be made without a sales charge:

rollovers to IRAs from 403(b) plans with Capital Bank and Trust Company^SM as custodian; and

rollovers to IRAs that are attributable to American Funds investments, if they meet the following requirements:

—

the assets being rolled over were invested in American Funds at the time of distribution; and

—

the rolled over assets are contributed to an American Funds IRA with Capital Bank and Trust Company as custodian.

IRA rollover assets that roll over without a sales charge as described above will not be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, and investment dealers will be compensated solely with an annual service fee that begins to accrue immediately. IRA rollover assets invested in Class A shares that are not attributable to American Funds investments, as well as future contributions to the IRA, will be subject to sales charges and to the terms and conditions generally applicable to Class A share investments as described in this prospectus and in the statement of additional information.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 67

Plans of distribution

The fund has plans of distribution, or “12b-1 plans,” for certain share classes under which it may finance activities intended primarily to sell shares, provided that the categories of expenses are approved in advance by the fund's board of trustees. The plans provide for payments, based on annualized percentages of average daily net assets, of:

Up to:	Share class(es)
	Class A shares:
0.15%	American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund
0.25%	The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, The Tax-Exempt Fund of California
0.30%	Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America, American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund, American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York
0.50%	Class F-1 shares
1.00%	Class B and C shares

For all share classes indicated above, up to .25% (.15% for Class A shares of American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund may be used to pay service fees to qualified dealers for providing certain shareholder services. The amount remaining for each share class, if any, may be used for distribution expenses.

The 12b-1 fees paid by each applicable share class of each fund, as a percentage of average net assets for the previous fiscal year, are indicated in the prospectus in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table for each fund. Since these fees are paid out of each fund’s assets or income on an ongoing basis, over time they may cost you more than paying other types of sales charges or service fees and reduce the return on your investment. The higher fees for Class B and C shares may cost you more over time than paying the initial sales charge for Class A shares.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 68

Other compensation to dealers

American Funds Distributors, at its expense, provides additional compensation to investment dealers. These payments may be made, at the discretion of American Funds Distributors, to the top 100 dealers (or their affiliates) that have sold shares of the American Funds. A number of factors will be considered in determining payments, including the qualifying dealer’s sales, assets and redemption rates, and the quality of the dealer’s relationship with American Funds Distributors. The payment will be determined using a formula applied consistently to dealers based on the relevant facts and circumstances. The level of payments made to a qualifying firm in any given year will vary and (excluding payments for meetings as described below) will represent the sum of (a) up to .10% of the previous year’s American Funds sales by that dealer and (b) up to .02% of American Funds assets attributable to that dealer, with an adjustment made for the dealer’s relative redemption rate and the quality of the dealer’s relationship with American Funds Distributors. For calendar year 2012, aggregate payments made by American Funds Distributors to dealers were less than .02% of the average assets of the American Funds. Aggregate payments may also change from year to year. American Funds Distributors makes these payments to help defray the costs incurred by qualifying dealers in connection with efforts to educate financial advisors about the American Funds so that they can make recommendations and provide services that are suitable and meet shareholder needs. American Funds Distributors will, on an annual basis, determine the advisability of continuing these payments. American Funds Distributors may also pay expenses associated with meetings conducted by selling dealers, advisory platform providers and other intermediaries to facilitate educating financial advisors and shareholders about the American Funds. If investment advisers, distributors or other affiliates of mutual funds pay additional compensation or other incentives in differing amounts, dealer firms and their advisors may have financial incentives for recommending a particular mutual fund over other mutual funds or investments. You should consult with your financial advisor and review carefully any disclosure by your financial advisor’s firm as to compensation received.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 69

Fund expenses

In periods of market volatility, assets of the fund may decline significantly, causing total annual fund operating expenses (as a percentage of the value of your investment) to become higher than the numbers shown in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables in this prospectus.

For all share classes except Class B shares, “Other expenses” items in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables in this prospectus include fees for administrative services provided by the fund’s investment adviser and its affiliates. Administrative services include, but are not limited to, coordinating, monitoring, assisting and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. The fund's investment adviser receives an administrative services fee at the annual rate of .01% of the average daily net assets of the fund attributable to Class A shares and .05% of the average daily net assets of the fund attributable to Class C and F shares for administrative services provided to these share classes.

The “Other expenses” items in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table for the fund also include custodial, legal, transfer agent and subtransfer agent/recordkeeping payments and various other expenses applicable to all share classes.

Subtransfer agent/recordkeeping payments may be made to third parties (including affiliates of the fund’s investment adviser) that provide subtransfer agent, recordkeeping and/or shareholder services with respect to certain shareholder accounts in lieu of the transfer agent providing such services. The amount paid for subtransfer agent/recordkeeping services varies depending on the share class and services provided, and typically ranges from $3 to $19 per account.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 70

Financial highlights

T he Financial Highlights tables are intended to help you understand the fund’s results for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share of a particular class. The information for the periods provided for American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund includes information that is prior to the fund's conversion from a money market fund to a short-term tax-exempt bond fund, but reflects the 10-for-1 reverse stock split of the shares of the fund, effective August 7, 2009. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions). Where indicated, figures in the tables reflect the impact, if any, of certain waivers from Capital Research and Management Company. For more information about these waivers, see the fund’s statement of additional information and annual reports. The information in the Financial Highlights tables for each fund other than The Tax-Exempt Fund of California has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and the information for the Tax-Exempt Fund of California has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. The current reports of PricewaterhouseCooper LLP or Deloitte & Touche LLP, as applicable, along with the fund’s financial statements, are included in the statement of additional information for the fund, which is available upon request.

American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund

		Income (loss) from investment operations¹			Dividends and distributions
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Distributions (from capital gains)	Total dividends and distributions	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before reim-bursements/ waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after reim-bursements/ waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A⁴:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$10.32	$.13	$(.11)	$ .02	$(.13)	$ —⁵	$(.13)	$10.21	.16%	$701	.59%	.59%	1.21%
Year ended 7/31/2012	10.23	.13	.09	.22	(.13)	—	(.13)	10.32	2.17	606	.59	.59	1.27
Year ended 7/31/2011	10.20	.12	.03	.15	(.12)	—	(.12)	10.23	1.53	520	.60	.60	1.24
Year ended 7/31/2010	10.00	.10	.20	.30	(.10)	—	(.10)	10.20	3.06	412	.65	.53	1.00
Period from 10/1/2008 to 7/31/2009^6,7	10.00	.03	—	.03	(.03)	—	(.03)	10.00	.33	501	.52⁸	.46⁸	.44⁸
Year ended 9/30/2008	10.00	.20	—	.20	(.20)	—	(.20)	10.00	1.99	810	.47	.43	1.93

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 71

		Income (loss) from investment operations¹			Dividends and distributions
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Distributions (from capital gains)	Total dividends and distributions	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before reim-bursements/ waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after reim-bursements/ waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-1:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$10.32	$.10	$(.11)	$(.01)	$(.10)	$ —⁵	$(.10)	$10.21	(.08)%	$30	.84%	.84%	.96%
Year ended 7/31/2012	10.23	.11	.09	.20	(.11)	—	(.11)	10.32	1.98	18	.78	.78	1.09
Year ended 7/31/2011	10.20	.11	.03	.14	(.11)	—	(.11)	10.23	1.34	14	.79	.79	1.04
Period from 8/27/2009 to 7/31/2010⁶	10.00	.10	.19	.29	(.09)	—	(.09)	10.20	2.93	5	.79⁸	.64⁸	1.06⁸
Class F-2:
Year ended 7/31/2013	10.32	.13	(.11)	.02	(.13)	—⁵	(.13)	10.21	.19	37	.56	.56	1.23
Year ended 7/31/2012	10.23	.14	.09	.23	(.14)	—	(.14)	10.32	2.24	15	.52	.52	1.33
Year ended 7/31/2011	10.20	.13	.03	.16	(.13)	—	(.13)	10.23	1.58	17	.55	.55	1.28
Period from 8/12/2009 to 7/31/2010⁶	10.00	.13	.18	.31	(.11)	—	(.11)	10.20	3.16	8	.51⁸	.45⁸	1.39⁸

	Year ended July 31
	2013	2012	2011	2010
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	22%	14%	12%	5%

Based on average shares outstanding.

Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain reimbursements/waivers from Capital Research and Management Company. During some of the periods shown, Capital Research and Management Company reduced fees for investment advisory services. In addition, during some of the periods shown, Capital Research and Management Company agreed to pay a portion of fees and expenses due to lower short-term interest rates.

⁴

Reflects the board of trustees’ approval of a 10-for-1 reverse stock split of the shares of the fund, effective August 7, 2009.

⁵

Amount less than $.01.

⁶

Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, is not representative of a full year.

⁷

In 2009, the fund changed its fiscal year-end from September 30 to July 31.

⁸

Annualized.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 72

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹			Dividends and distributions
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Distributions (from capital gains)	Total dividends and distributions	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$16.36	$.40	$(.42)	$ (.02)	$(.40)	$ —⁴	$(.40)	$15.94	(.13)%	$2,625	.60%	.60%	2.45%
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.44	.51	.95	(.44)	—	(.44)	16.36	6.06	2,549	.60	.60	2.72
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.46	.07	.53	(.46)	—	(.46)	15.85	3.41	2,232	.60	.60	2.93
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.48	.67	1.15	(.48)	—	(.48)	15.78	7.71	2,316	.61	.61	3.08
Year ended 7/31/2009	15.01	.50	.10	.60	(.50)	—	(.50)	15.11	4.12	1,700	.64	.63	3.36
Class B:
Year ended 7/31/2013	16.36	.29	(.42)	(.13)	(.29)	—⁴	(.29)	15.94	(.82)	3	1.29	1.29	1.78
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.33	.51	.84	(.33)	—	(.33)	16.36	5.33	6	1.30	1.30	2.04
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.35	.07	.42	(.35)	—	(.35)	15.85	2.69	10	1.31	1.31	2.24
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.37	.67	1.04	(.37)	—	(.37)	15.78	6.96	21	1.31	1.31	2.40
Year ended 7/31/2009	15.01	.40	.10	.50	(.40)	—	(.40)	15.11	3.40	25	1.34	1.33	2.69
Class C:
Year ended 7/31/2013	16.36	.28	(.42)	(.14)	(.28)	—⁴	(.28)	15.94	(.87)	49	1.34	1.34	1.72
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.32	.51	.83	(.32)	—	(.32)	16.36	5.27	75	1.34	1.34	1.99
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.34	.07	.41	(.34)	—	(.34)	15.85	2.64	69	1.36	1.36	2.19
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.36	.67	1.03	(.36)	—	(.36)	15.78	6.91	91	1.36	1.36	2.34
Year ended 7/31/2009	15.01	.39	.10	.49	(.39)	—	(.39)	15.11	3.35	73	1.39	1.38	2.64
Class F-1:
Year ended 7/31/2013	16.36	.39	(.42)	(.03)	(.39)	—⁴	(.39)	15.94	(.22)	122	.69	.69	2.37
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.43	.51	.94	(.43)	—	(.43)	16.36	6.00	132	.65	.65	2.67
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.45	.07	.52	(.45)	—	(.45)	15.85	3.37	104	.65	.65	2.89
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.47	.67	1.14	(.47)	—	(.47)	15.78	7.68	112	.63	.63	3.06
Year ended 7/31/2009	15.01	.50	.10	.60	(.50)	—	(.50)	15.11	4.11	108	.66	.64	3.33

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 73

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹			Dividends and distributions
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Distributions (from capital gains)	Total dividends and distributions	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-2:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$16.36	$.43	$(.42)	$.01	$(.43)	$ —⁴	$(.43)	$15.94	.05%	$148	.42%	.42%	2.64%
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.47	.51	.98	(.47)	—	(.47)	16.36	6.28	162	.38	.38	2.94
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.49	.07	.56	(.49)	—	(.49)	15.85	3.65	132	.38	.38	3.15
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.52	.67	1.19	(.52)	—	(.52)	15.78	7.97	125	.36	.36	3.35
Period from 8/18/2008 to 7/31/2009⁵	15.15	.50	(.04)	.46	(.50)	—	(.50)	15.11	3.15	204	.38⁶	.38⁶	3.51⁶

	Year ended July 31
	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	13%	9%	14%	13%	7%

Based on average shares outstanding.

Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain waivers from Capital Research and Management Company. During some of the periods shown, Capital Research and Management Company reduced fees for investment advisory services.

⁴

Amount less than $.01.

⁵

Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, is not representative of a full year.

⁶

Annualized.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 74

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	$13.08	$.40	$(.64)	$ (.24)	$(.40)	$12.44	(1.93)%	$6,984	.55%⁶	.55%⁶	3.35%⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.47	.82	1.29	(.47)	13.08	10.71	7,445	.55	.55	3.73
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.48	(.27)	.21	(.48)	12.26	1.85	6,557	.55	.55	4.01
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.48	.71	1.19	(.48)	12.53	10.23	7,740	.54	.54	3.92
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.50	(.21)	.29	(.50)	11.82	2.65	7,130	.56	.56	4.39
Year ended 8/31/2008	12.19	.51	(.16)	.35	(.51)	12.03	2.87	6,319	.56	.53	4.16
Class B:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	13.08	.31	(.64)	(.33)	(.31)	12.44	(2.59)	20	1.30⁶	1.30⁶	2.61⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.38	.82	1.20	(.38)	13.08	9.90	30	1.29	1.29	3.01
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.39	(.27)	.12	(.39)	12.26	1.08	40	1.30	1.30	3.26
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.38	.71	1.09	(.38)	12.53	9.41	78	1.30	1.30	3.18
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.41	(.21)	.20	(.41)	11.82	1.88	107	1.32	1.31	3.65
Year ended 8/31/2008	12.19	.41	(.16)	.25	(.41)	12.03	2.10	114	1.31	1.28	3.42
Class C:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	13.08	.31	(.64)	(.33)	(.31)	12.44	(2.64)	375	1.34⁶	1.34⁶	2.56⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.37	.82	1.19	(.37)	13.08	9.85	420	1.34	1.34	2.94
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.39	(.27)	.12	(.39)	12.26	1.03	370	1.35	1.35	3.21
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.38	.71	1.09	(.38)	12.53	9.35	475	1.34	1.34	3.11
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.41	(.21)	.20	(.41)	11.82	1.83	399	1.36	1.36	3.58
Year ended 8/31/2008	12.19	.41	(.16)	.25	(.41)	12.03	2.05	313	1.36	1.33	3.36

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 75

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-1:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	$13.08	$.39	$(.64)	$(.25)	$(.39)	$12.44	(2.05)%	$1,659	.68%⁶	.68%⁶	3.21%⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.46	.82	1.28	(.46)	13.08	10.59	1,526	.66	.66	3.62
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.47	(.27)	.20	(.47)	12.26	1.73	1,356	.66	.66	3.90
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.46	.71	1.17	(.46)	12.53	10.12	1,380	.64	.64	3.80
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.49	(.21)	.28	(.49)	11.82	2.56	976	.65	.64	4.31
Year ended 8/31/2008	12.19	.50	(.16)	.34	(.50)	12.03	2.79	1,020	.63	.61	4.07
Class F-2:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	13.08	.42	(.64)	(.22)	(.42)	12.44	(1.81)	327	.42⁶	.42⁶	3.49⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.49	.82	1.31	(.49)	13.08	10.88	239	.40	.40	3.87
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.50	(.27)	.23	(.50)	12.26	1.99	196	.41	.41	4.15
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.50	.71	1.21	(.50)	12.53	10.41	216	.37	.37	4.09
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.51	(.21)	.30	(.51)	11.82	2.80	253	.39	.39	4.36
Period from 8/1/2008 to 8/31/2008⁴	11.94	.04	.09	.13	(.04)	12.03	1.10	3	.04	.03	.34

	For the period 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	Year ended August 31
	For the period 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	16%	14%	12%	16%	18%	20%

Based on average shares outstanding.

Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain waivers from Capital Research and Management Company. During one the periods shown, Capital Research and Management Company reduced fees for investment advisory services.

⁴

Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, may not be representative of a full year.

⁵

In 2013, the fund changed its fiscal year-end from August 31 to July 31.

⁶

Annualized.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 76

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$15.13	$.63	$ (.65)	$ (.02)	$(.63)	$14.48	(.25)%	$2,246	.69%	.69%	4.14%
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.66	1.35	2.01	(.66)	15.13	14.98	2,286	.68	.68	4.64
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.67	(.19)	.48	(.67)	13.78	3.57	1,849	.64	.64	4.86
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.66	1.28	1.94	(.66)	13.97	15.50	2,109	.68	.68	4.82
Year ended 7/31/2009	14.21	.68	(1.52)	(.84)	(.68)	12.69	(5.69)	1,738	.72	.70	5.43
Class B:
Year ended 7/31/2013	15.13	.52	(.65)	(.13)	(.52)	14.48	(.97)	10	1.42	1.42	3.42
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.56	1.35	1.91	(.56)	15.13	14.14	16	1.42	1.42	3.96
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.56	(.19)	.37	(.56)	13.78	2.78	21	1.41	1.41	4.07
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.56	1.28	1.84	(.56)	13.97	14.67	36	1.42	1.42	4.11
Year ended 7/31/2009	14.21	.59	(1.52)	(.93)	(.59)	12.69	(6.39)	43	1.46	1.45	4.70
Class C:
Year ended 7/31/2013	15.13	.52	(.65)	(.13)	(.52)	14.48	(1.02)	161	1.46	1.46	3.37
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.55	1.35	1.90	(.55)	15.13	14.09	170	1.46	1.46	3.86
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.56	(.19)	.37	(.56)	13.78	2.73	137	1.46	1.46	4.03
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.55	1.28	1.83	(.55)	13.97	14.60	163	1.46	1.46	4.03
Year ended 7/31/2009	14.21	.58	(1.52)	(.94)	(.58)	12.69	(6.44)	126	1.51	1.50	4.63

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 77

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-1:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$15.13	$.62	$ (.65)	$ (.03)	$(.62)	$14.48	(.35)%	$172	.79%	.79%	4.04%
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.65	1.35	2.00	(.65)	15.13	14.89	191	.76	.76	4.56
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.65	(.19)	.46	(.65)	13.78	3.45	146	.76	.76	4.73
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.65	1.28	1.93	(.65)	13.97	15.42	181	.75	.75	4.75
Year ended 7/31/2009	14.21	.67	(1.52)	(.85)	(.67)	12.69	(5.77)	156	.80	.78	5.35
Class F-2:
Year ended 7/31/2013	15.13	.66	(.65)	.01	(.66)	14.48	(.09)	126	.52	.52	4.31
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.69	1.35	2.04	(.69)	15.13	15.20	87	.49	.49	4.81
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.69	(.19)	.50	(.69)	13.78	3.74	58	.48	.48	5.03
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.68	1.28	1.96	(.68)	13.97	15.72	50	.48	.48	5.00
Period from 8/12/2008 to 7/31/2009⁴	14.28	.66	(1.58)	(.92)	(.67)	12.69	(6.19)	32	.53⁵	.53⁵	5.50⁵

	Year ended July 31
	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	25%	20%	18%	15%	29%

Based on average shares outstanding.

Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

⁴

Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, is not representative of a full year.

⁵

Annualized.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 78

American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in thousands)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$10.85	$.31	$(.64)	$(.33)	$(.31)	$10.21	(3.16)%	$ 99,811	.66%	.59%	2.88%
Year ended 7/31/2012	9.98	.32	.87	1.19	(.32)	10.85	12.11	106,145	.76	.63	3.06
Period from 11/1/2010⁴to 7/31/2011⁵	10.00	.21	(.03)	.18	(.20)	9.98	1.83	62,229	.97⁶	.67⁶	2.82⁶
Class B:
Year ended 7/31/2013	10.85	.22	(.64)	(.42)	(.22)	10.21	(4.00)	174	1.53	1.46	1.99
Year ended 7/31/2012	9.98	.23	.87	1.10	(.23)	10.85	11.18	271	1.59	1.45	2.24
Period from 11/1/2010⁴to 7/31/2011⁵	10.00	.15	(.03)	.12	(.14)	9.98	1.24	120	1.76⁶	1.48⁶	2.21⁶
Class C:
Year ended 7/31/2013	10.85	.21	(.64)	(.43)	(.21)	10.21	(4.04)	7,763	1.58	1.50	1.96
Year ended 7/31/2012	9.98	.23	.87	1.10	(.23)	10.85	11.12	6,875	1.62	1.50	2.17
Period from 11/1/2010⁴to 7/31/2011⁵	10.00	.15	(.03)	.12	(.14)	9.98	1.26	2,103	1.75⁶	1.55⁶	2.27⁶
Class F-1:
Year ended 7/31/2013	10.85	.29	(.64)	(.35)	(.29)	10.21	(3.36)	1,372	.86	.79	2.67
Year ended 7/31/2012	9.98	.31	.87	1.18	(.31)	10.85	11.95	2,392	.86	.74	2.94
Period from 11/1/2010⁴to 7/31/2011⁵	10.00	.20	(.03)	.17	(.19)	9.98	1.76	872	1.03⁶	.78⁶	2.71⁶

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 79

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in thousands)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-2:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$10.85	$.31	$(.64)	$ (.33)	$(.31)	$10.21	(3.14)%	$14,378	.64%	.57%	2.90%
Year ended 7/31/2012	9.98	.33	.87	1.20	(.33)	10.85	12.21	12,983	.63	.53	3.13
Period from 11/1/2010⁴ to 7/31/2011⁵	10.00	.22	(.03)	.19	(.21)	9.98	1.92	3,162	.70⁶	.55⁶	3.08⁶

	Year ended July 31		For the period 11/1/2010⁴ to 7/31/2011⁵
	2013	2012	For the period 11/1/2010⁴ to 7/31/2011⁵
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	23%	15%	16%

Based on average shares outstanding.

Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

This column reflects the impact of certain reimbursements from Capital Research and Management Company. During some of the periods shown, Capital Research and Management Company reimbursed other fees and expenses.

⁴

Commencement of operations.

⁵

Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, is not representative of a full year.

⁶

Annualized.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 80

The Tax-Exempt Fund of California

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	$17.54	$.59	$(.82)	$(.23)	$(.59)	$16.72	(1.45)%	$1,250	.63%⁶	.63%⁶	3.64%⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	16.32	.66	1.22	1.88	(.66)	17.54	11.70	1,334	.63	.63	3.89
Year ended 8/31/2011	16.63	.65	(.31)	.34	(.65)	16.32	2.24	1,218	.64	.64	4.08
Year ended 8/31/2010	15.31	.64	1.32	1.96	(.64)	16.63	13.07	1,442	.62	.62	4.04
Year ended 8/31/2009	15.79	.67	(.48)	.19	(.67)	15.31	1.49	1,311	.63	.62	4.59
Year ended 8/31/2008	16.26	.66	(.47)	.19	(.66)	15.79	1.22	1,493	.61	.58	4.16
Class B:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	17.54	.47	(.82)	(.35)	(.47)	16.72	(2.12)	3	1.37⁶	1.37⁶	2.90⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	16.32	.53	1.22	1.75	(.53)	17.54	10.89	5	1.37	1.37	3.17
Year ended 8/31/2011	16.63	.53	(.31)	.22	(.53)	16.32	1.48	7	1.39	1.39	3.33
Year ended 8/31/2010	15.31	.52	1.32	1.84	(.52)	16.63	12.22	11	1.37	1.37	3.31
Year ended 8/31/2009	15.79	.56	(.48)	.08	(.56)	15.31	.73	16	1.39	1.37	3.85
Year ended 8/31/2008	16.26	.54	(.47)	.07	(.54)	15.79	.46	21	1.36	1.33	3.41
Class C:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	17.54	.46	(.82)	(.36)	(.46)	16.72	(2.16)	87	1.42⁶	1.42⁶	2.85⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	16.32	.52	1.22	1.74	(.52)	17.54	10.83	101	1.42	1.42	3.10
Year ended 8/31/2011	16.63	.52	(.31)	.21	(.52)	16.32	1.42	91	1.44	1.44	3.28
Year ended 8/31/2010	15.31	.51	1.32	1.83	(.51)	16.63	12.17	116	1.42	1.42	3.24
Year ended 8/31/2009	15.79	.55	(.48)	.07	(.55)	15.31	.68	105	1.43	1.42	3.79
Year ended 8/31/2008	16.26	.54	(.47)	.07	(.54)	15.79	.41	118	1.41	1.38	3.36

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 81

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-1:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	$17.54	$.56	$(.82)	$(.26)	$(.56)	$16.72	(1.58)%	$74	.77%⁶	.77%⁶	3.50%⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	16.32	.64	1.22	1.86	(.64)	17.54	11.59	82	.73	.73	3.79
Year ended 8/31/2011	16.63	.64	(.31)	.33	(.64)	16.32	2.13	82	.74	.74	3.98
Year ended 8/31/2010	15.31	.63	1.32	1.95	(.63)	16.63	12.97	108	.70	.70	3.97
Year ended 8/31/2009	15.79	.65	(.48)	.17	(.65)	15.31	1.41	113	.71	.70	4.52
Year ended 8/31/2008	16.26	.65	(.47)	.18	(.65)	15.79	1.14	192	.69	.65	4.08
Class F-2:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	17.54	.60	(.82)	(.22)	(.60)	16.72	(1.35)	91	.51⁶	.51⁶	3.77⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	16.32	.68	1.22	1.90	(.68)	17.54	11.87	74	.48	.48	4.02
Year ended 8/31/2011	16.63	.67	(.31)	.36	(.67)	16.32	2.38	41	.50	.50	4.22
Year ended 8/31/2010	15.31	.67	1.32	1.99	(.67)	16.63	13.27	46	.43	.43	4.27
Year ended 8/31/2009	15.79	.69	(.48)	.21	(.69)	15.31	1.67	99	.45	.45	4.61
Period from 8/22/2008 to 8/31/2008⁴	15.79	.02	—⁷	.02	(.02)	15.79	.09	—⁸	.01	.01	.10

	For the period 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	Year ended August 31
	For the period 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	12%	15%	10%	18%	17%	16%

Based on average shares outstanding.

Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

This column reflects the impact, if any, of certain waivers from Capital Research and Management Company. During one of the periods shown, Capital Research and Management Company reduced fees for investment advisory services.

⁴

Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, may not be representative of a full year.

⁵

In 2013, the fund changed its fiscal year-end from August 31 to July 31.

⁶

Annualized.

⁷

Amount less than $.01.

⁸

Amount less than $1 million.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 82

Appendix

Moody’s long-term rating definitions

Aaa — Obligations rated Aaa are judged to be of the highest quality, with minimal credit risk.

Aa — Obligations rated Aa are judged to be of high quality and are subject to very low credit risk.

A — Obligations rated A are considered upper-medium grade and are subject to low credit risk.

Baa — Obligations rated Baa are subject to moderate credit risk. They are considered medium grade and as such may possess certain speculative characteristics.

Ba — Obligations rated Ba are judged to have speculative elements and are subject to substantial credit risk.

B — Obligations rated B are considered speculative and are subject to high credit risk.

Caa — Obligations rated Caa are judged to be of poor standing and are subject to very high credit risk.

Ca — Obligations rated Ca are highly speculative and are likely in, or very near, default, with some prospect of recovery of principal and interest.

C — Obligations rated C are the lowest rated class of bonds and are typically in default, with little prospect for recovery of principal or interest.

Note: Moody’s appends numerical modifiers 1, 2 and 3 to each generic rating classification from Aa through Caa. The modifier 1 indicates that the obligation ranks in the higher end of its generic rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking in the lower end of that generic rating category.

Standard & Poor’s long-term-issue credit ratings

Standard & Poor’s (“S&P”) rates the long-term debt securities of various entities in categories ranging from AAA to D according to quality. The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus (+) or minus (–) sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories. Ratings are described as follows:

AAA — An obligation rated AAA has the highest rating assigned by S&P. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.

AA — An obligation rated AA differs from the highest rated obligations only in a small degree. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is very strong.

A — An obligation rated A is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than obligations in higher rated categories. However, the obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is still strong.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 83

BBB — An obligation rated BBB exhibits adequate protection parameters. However, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity of the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

BB, B, CCC, CC and C — Obligations rated BB, B, CCC, CC and C are regarded as having significant speculative characteristics. BB indicates the least degree of speculation and C the highest. While such obligations will likely have some quality and protective characteristics, these may be outweighed by large uncertainties or major exposures to adverse conditions.

BB — An obligation rated BB is less vulnerable to nonpayment than other speculative issues. However, it faces major ongoing uncertainties or exposure to adverse business, financial or economic conditions that could lead to the obligor’s inadequate capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

B — An obligation rated B is more vulnerable to nonpayment than obligations rated BB, but the obligor currently has the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions will likely impair the obligor’s capacity or willingness to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CCC — An obligation rated CCC is currently vulnerable to nonpayment and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and economic conditions for the obligor to meet its financial commitment on the obligation. In the event of adverse business, financial or economic conditions, the obligor is not likely to have the capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation.

CC — An obligation rated CC is currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment.

C — A C rating is assigned to obligations that are currently highly vulnerable to nonpayment, obligations that have payment arrearages allowed by the terms of the documents, or obligations of an issuer that is the subject of a bankruptcy petition or similar action that have not experienced a payment default. Among others, the C rating may be assigned to subordinated debt, preferred stock or other obligations on which cash payments have been suspended in accordance with the instrument’s terms or when preferred stock is the subject of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

D — An obligation rated D is in payment default. The D rating category is used when payments on an obligation are not made on the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired, unless S&P believes that such payments will be made during such grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a bankruptcy petition or the taking of a similar action if payments on an obligation are jeopardized. An obligation’s rating is lowered to D upon completion of a distressed exchange offer, whereby some or all of the issue is either repurchased for an amount of cash or replaced by other instruments having a total value that is less than par.

Plus (+) or minus (–) — The ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus sign to show relative standing within the major rating categories.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 84

NR — This indicates that no rating has been requested, that there is insufficient information on which to base a rating, or that S&P does not rate a particular obligation as a matter of policy.

Fitch Ratings, Inc. long-term credit ratings

AAA — Highest credit quality. AAA ratings denote the lowest expectation of default risk. They are assigned only in case of exceptionally strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events.

AA — Very high credit quality. AA ratings denote expectations of very low default risk. They indicate very strong capacity for payment of financial commitments. This capacity is not significantly vulnerable to foreseeable events.

A — High credit quality. A ratings denote expectations of low default risk. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered strong. This capacity may, nevertheless, be more vulnerable to changes in circumstances or in economic conditions than is the case for higher ratings.

BBB — Good credit quality. BBB ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate but adverse changes in circumstances and economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity.

BB — Speculative. BB ratings indicate an elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse changes in business or economic conditions over time; however, business or financial flexibility exists which supports the servicing of financial commitments.

B — Highly speculative. B ratings indicate that material default risk is present, but a limited margin of safety remains. Financial commitments are currently being met; however, capacity for continued payment is vulnerable to deterioration in the business and economic environment.

CCC — Substantial credit risk. Default is a real possibility.

CC — Very high levels of credit risk. Default of some kind appears probable.

C — Exceptionally high levels of credit risk. Default is imminent or inevitable, or the issuer is in standstill. Conditions that are indicative of a C category rating for an issuer include:

The issuer has entered into a grace or cure period following nonpayment of a material financial obligation;

The issuer has entered into a temporary negotiated waiver or standstill agreement following a payment default on a material financial obligation; or

Fitch Ratings otherwise believes a condition of RD or D to be imminent or inevitable, including through the formal announcement of a distressed debt exchange.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 85

RD — Restricted default. RD ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has experienced an uncured payment default on a bond, loan or other material financial obligation but which has not entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding up procedure, and which has not otherwise ceased operating. This would include:

The selective payment default on a specific class or currency of debt;

The uncured expiry of any applicable grace period, cure period or default forbearance period following a payment default on a bank loan, capital markets security or other material financial obligation;

The extension of multiple waivers or forbearance periods upon a payment default on one or more material financial obligations, either in series or in parallel; or

Execution of a distressed debt exchange on one or more material financial obligations.

D — Default. D ratings indicate an issuer that in Fitch Ratings’ opinion has entered into bankruptcy filings, administration, receivership, liquidation or other formal winding up procedure, or which has otherwise ceased business.

Default ratings are not assigned prospectively to entities or their obligations; within this context, nonpayment on an instrument that contains a deferral feature or grace period will generally not be considered a default until after the expiration of the deferral or grace period, unless a default is otherwise driven by bankruptcy or other similar circumstance, or by a distressed debt exchange.

Imminent default typically refers to the occasion where a payment default has been intimated by the issuer, and is all but inevitable. This may, for example, be where an issuer has missed a scheduled payment, but (as is typical) has a grace period during which it may cure the payment default. Another alternative would be where an issuer has formally announced a distressed debt exchange, but the date of the exchange still lies several days or weeks in the immediate future.

In all cases, the assignment of a default rating reflects the agency’s opinion as to the most appropriate rating category consistent with the rest of its universe of ratings, and may differ from the definition of default under the terms of an issuer’s financial obligations or local commercial practice.

Note: The modifiers “+” or “–” may be appended to a rating to denote relative status within major rating categories. Such suffixes are not added to the AAA long-term rating category, or to categories below B.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 86


	For shareholder services	American Funds Service Company (800) 421-4225
	For retirement plan services	Call your employer or plan administrator
	For 24-hour information	American FundsLine (800) 325-3590 americanfunds.com
	Telephone calls you have with American Funds may be monitored or recorded for quality assurance, verification and recordkeeping purposes. By speaking to American Funds on the telephone, you consent to such monitoring and recording.

Annual/Semi-annual report to shareholders The shareholder reports contain additional information about the fund, including financial statements, investment results, portfolio holdings, a discussion of market conditions and the fund’s investment strategies, and the independent registered public accounting firm’s reports (in the annual report).

Statement of additional information (SAI) and codes of ethics The current SAI, as amended from time to time, contains more detailed information about the fund, including the fund’s financial statements, and is incorporated by reference into this prospectus. This means that the current SAI, for legal purposes, is part of this prospectus. The codes of ethics describe the personal investing policies adopted by the fund, the fund’s investment adviser and its affiliated companies.

The codes of ethics and current SAI are on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These and other related materials about the fund are available for review or to be copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., (202) 551-8090, on the EDGAR database on the SEC’s website at sec.gov or, after payment of a duplicating fee, via email request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section, 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-1520. The codes of ethics, current SAI and shareholder reports are also available, free of charge, on our website, americanfunds.com.

E-delivery and household mailings Each year you are automatically sent an updated summary prospectus and annual and semi-annual reports for the fund. You may also occasionally receive proxy statements for the fund. In order to reduce the volume of mail you receive, when possible, only one copy of these documents will be sent to shareholders who are part of the same family and share the same household address. You may elect to receive these documents electronically in lieu of paper form by enrolling in e-delivery on our website, americanfunds.com.

If you would like to opt out of household-based mailings or receive a complimentary copy of the current SAI, codes of ethics or annual/semi-annual report to shareholders, please call American Funds Service Company at (800) 421-4225 or write to the secretary of the fund at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071-1406, or for American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York at One Market, Steuart Tower, Suite 2000, San Francisco, California 94105-1409.

Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) Shareholders may obtain information about SIPC® on its website at sipc.org or by calling (202) 371-8300.

MFGEPRX-965-1013P Litho in USA CGD/UNL/8020

Investment Company File No. 811-05750
Investment Company File No. 811-07888
Investment Company File No. 811-02421
Investment Company File No. 811-08576
Investment Company File No. 811-22448
Investment Company File No. 811-04694

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America^®
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America^®

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund^®

Prospectus

October 1, 2013

Fund	Class R-6
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America	N/A
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America	N/A
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund	N/A

Table of contents
Summaries
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America			1
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America			7
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund			13
Investment objectives, strategies and risks			19
Management and organization			24
Purchase, exchange and sale of shares			27
How to sell shares			30
Distributions and taxes			33
Choosing a share class			34
Sales charges			34
Other compensation to dealers			35
Fund expenses			36
Financial highlights			37
Appendix			43

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

Investment objective

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share class
	R-6
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share class
	R-6
Management fees	0.24%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.07
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.31

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Share class	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
R-6	$32	$100	$174	$393

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 1

Principal investment strategies

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 2

Principal risks

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 3

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund’s investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund’s objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund’s investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com. Investment results for Class R-6 shares are not presented because the class had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2011. However, results for Class A shares are presented because Class A is the class of shares with the longest period of operations. Other share classes, including Class R-6 shares, have different expenses and therefore different investment results.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 4

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
A − Before taxes	10/6/1993	1.24%	4.02%	3.55%	4.41%
− After taxes on distributions		1.23	4.02	3.55	N/A
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		1.72	3.88	3.49	N/A

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime (from Class A inception)
Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	3.07%	4.84%	4.07%	4.75%
Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	5.09	4.84	3.93	4.67
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 1.20% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Brenda S. Ellerin President	17 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Neil L. Langberg Senior Vice President	20 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 5

Purchase and sale of fund shares

Class R-6 shares are generally available for purchase only by American Funds Portfolio Series^SM and other investment companies deemed appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser.

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $250 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

Tax information

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 6

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

Investment objective

The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax, consistent with the preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share class
	R-6
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share class
	R-6
Management fees	0.24%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.07
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.31

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Share class	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
R-6	$32	$100	$174	$393

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 7

Portfolio turnover The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund’s investment results. During the eleven-month period ended July 31, 2013, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 16% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

The fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in municipal bonds.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund will not invest in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests substantially in debt securities rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt securities rated BBB+ or below and Baa1 or below (including those rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below) by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.” Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same type of projects or industries.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 8

Principal risks

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 9

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund’s investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund’s objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund’s investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com. Investment results for Class R-6 shares are not presented because the class had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2011. However, results for Class A shares are presented because Class A is the class of shares with the longest period of operations. Other share classes, including Class R-6 shares, have different expenses and therefore different investment results.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 10

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
A − Before taxes	10/3/79	4.81%	4.77%	4.33%	6.86%
− After taxes on distributions		4.81	4.77	4.33	N/A
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		4.39	4.64	4.27	N/A

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime (from Class A inception)
Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	6.78%	5.91%	5.10%	N /A
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	8.84	5.31	4.43	6.74%
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 2.62% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Neil L. Langberg President	34 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Brenda S. Ellerin Senior Vice President	15 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Karl J. Zeile Vice President and Trustee	10 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 11

Purchase and sale of fund shares

Class R-6 shares are generally available for purchase only by American Funds Portfolio Series^SM and other investment companies deemed appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser.

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $250 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

Tax information

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 12

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund

Investment objective

The fund’s investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal income tax.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
	Share class
	R-6
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
	Share class
	R-6
Management fees	0.32%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	none
Other expenses	0.08
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.40

Example This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.

Share class	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
R-6	$41	$128	$224	$505

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 13

Principal investment strategies

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limitation, in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal bonds rated BBB+ or below or Baa1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.” Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 14

Principal risks

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Credit risk is gauged, in part, by the credit ratings of the securities in which the fund invests. However, ratings are only the opinions of the rating agencies issuing them and are not guarantees as to credit quality or an evaluation of market risk. The fund’s investment adviser relies on its own credit analysts to research issuers and issues in seeking to mitigate the risks of an issuer defaulting on its obligations.

Thinly traded securities — There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 15

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund’s investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund’s average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa. The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund’s objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund’s investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com. Investment results for Class R-6 shares are not presented because the class had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2011. However, results for Class A shares are presented because Class A is the class of shares with the longest period of operations. Other share classes, including Class R-6 shares, have different expenses and therefore different investment results.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 16

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2012 (with maximum sales charge):
Share class	Inception date	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime
A − Before taxes	9/26/1994	9.89%	4.75%	4.57%	5.61%
− After taxes on distributions		9.89	4.75	4.57	N/A
− After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares		8.01	4.70	4.56	N/A

Indexes	1 year	5 years	10 years	Lifetime (from Class A inception)
Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	6.78%	5.91%	5.10%	6.03%
Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or U.S. federal income taxes)	18.14	6.15	7.08	N/A
Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or U.S. federal income taxes)	14.13	4.83	4.86	5.37
Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2013: 3.88% (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at (800) 325-3590.)

Management

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company^SM

Portfolio managers The individuals primarily responsible for the portfolio management of the fund are:

Portfolio manager/ Fund title (if applicable)	Portfolio manager experience in this fund	Primary title with investment adviser
Karl J. Zeile President and Trustee	9 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Neil L. Langberg Senior Vice President	19 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research and Management Company
Chad M. Rach	2 years	Senior Vice President – Fixed Income, Capital Research Company

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 17

Purchase and sale of fund shares

Class R-6 shares are generally available for purchase only by American Funds Portfolio Series^SM and other investment companies deemed appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser.

The minimum amount to establish an account for all share classes is $250 and the minimum to add to an account is $50.

Tax information

Payments to broker-dealers and other financial intermediaries

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 18

Investment objectives, strategies and risks

Except where the context indicates otherwise, references to the “fund” apply to each of these tax-exempt bond funds.

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds rated BBB and Baa by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund’s portfolio is between three and 10 years.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund will not invest in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests substantially in debt securities rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in debt securities rated BBB+ or below and Baa1 or below (including those rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below) by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.”

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 19

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limitation, in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal bonds rated BBB+ or below or Baa1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund’s investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund’s investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as “junk bonds.”

Applicable to all funds

The fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or engaged in the same types of projects or industries.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 20

There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 21

The fund’s investment results will depend on the ability of the fund’s investment adviser to navigate the risks discussed above.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 22

Fund comparative indexes The investment results tables in this prospectus show how the fund’s average annual total returns compare with various broad measures of market results.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 23

Management and organization

Investment adviser Capital Research and Management Company, an experienced investment management organization founded in 1931, serves as the investment adviser to the fund and other funds, including the American Funds. Capital Research and Management Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Capital Group Companies, Inc. and is located at 333 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, California 90071. Capital Research and Management Company manages the investment portfolio and business affairs of the fund. The total management fee paid by the fund, as a percentage of average net assets, for the previous fiscal year appears in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables under “Fees and expenses of the fund.” The management fee for the fund is based on the daily net assets of the fund and the fund’s monthly gross investment income. Please see the statement of additional information for further details. A discussion regarding the basis for approval of the fund’s Investment Advisory and Service Agreement by the fund’s board of trustees is contained in the fund’s annual report to shareholders for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2013.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 24

Portfolio manager	Investment experience	Experience in this fund	Role in management of the fund
Brenda S. Ellerin	Investment professional for 24 years in total; 22 years with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		17 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		15 years (plus 6 years of prior experience as an investment analyst for the fund)	Serves as a municipal bond portfolio manager
Neil L. Langberg	Investment professional for 37 years, all with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		20 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		34 years	Serves as a municipal bond portfolio manager
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund		19 years	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 25

Portfolio manager	Investment experience	Experience in this fund	Role in management of the fund
Chad M. Rach	Investment professional for 20 years in total; 9 years with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund		2 years (plus 6 years of prior experience as an investment analyst for the fund)	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager
Karl J. Zeile	Investment professional for 22 years in total; 14 years with Capital Research and Management Company or affiliate
The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America		10 years (plus 4 years of prior experience as an investment analyst for the fund)	Serves as a municipal bond portfolio manager
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund		9 years (plus 5 years of prior experience as an investment analyst for the fund)	Serves as a fixed-income portfolio manager

Information regarding the portfolio managers’ compensation, their ownership of securities in the fund and other accounts they manage is in the statement of additional information.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 26

Purchase, exchange and sale of shares

Different procedures may apply to certain employer-sponsored arrangements, including, but not limited to, SEPs and SIMPLE IRAs.

Your shares will be purchased at the net asset value or sold at the net asset value next determined after American Funds Service Company® receives your request, provided that your request contains all information and legal documentation necessary to process the transaction.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 27

Purchase of Class R shares Class R-6 shares are generally available for purchase only by American Funds Portfolio Series and other investment companies deemed appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser or distributor. Therefore, any information included in this prospectus regarding purchases by retirement plans or other group accounts is not applicable. Class R shares are generally available only to retirement plans established under Internal Revenue Code Sections 401(a), 403(b) or 457, and to nonqualified deferred compensation plans and certain voluntary employee benefit association and post-retirement benefit plans. Class R shares also are generally available only to retirement plans where plan level or omnibus accounts are held on the books of the fund. Class R-6 shares are generally available only to fee-based programs or through retirement plan intermediaries. Class R shares generally are not available to retail nonretirement accounts, traditional and Roth individual retirement accounts (IRAs), Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, SEPs, SARSEPs, SIMPLE IRAs and 529 college savings plans.

Purchases by employer-sponsored retirement plans Eligible retirement plans generally may open an account and purchase Class A or R shares by contacting any investment dealer (who may impose transaction charges in addition to those described in this prospectus) authorized to sell these classes of the fund’s shares. Some or all R share classes may not be available through certain investment dealers. Additional shares may be purchased through a plan’s administrator or recordkeeper.

Employer-sponsored retirement plans that are eligible to purchase Class R shares may instead purchase Class A shares and pay the applicable Class A sales charge, provided that their recordkeepers can properly apply a sales charge on plan investments. These plans are not eligible to make initial purchases of $1 million or more in Class A shares and thereby invest in Class A shares without a sales charge, nor are they eligible to establish a statement of intention that qualifies them to purchase Class A shares without a sales charge. More information about statements of intention can be found under “Sales charge reductions and waivers” in this prospectus. Plans investing in Class A shares with a sales charge may purchase additional Class A shares in accordance with the sales charge table in this prospectus.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 28

For accounts established with an automatic investment plan, the initial purchase minimum of $250 may be waived if the purchases (including purchases through exchanges from another fund) made under the plan are sufficient to reach $250 within five months of account establishment.

Exchange Generally, you may exchange your shares for shares of the same class of other American Funds without a sales charge.

See “Transactions by telephone, fax or the Internet” in the section “How to sell shares” of this prospectus for information regarding electronic exchanges.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 29

How to sell shares

You may sell (redeem) shares in any of the following ways:

Employer-sponsored retirement plans

Shares held in eligible retirement plans may be sold through the plan’s administrator or recordkeeper.

Writing to American Funds Service Company

Requests must be signed by the registered shareholder(s).

A signature guarantee is required if the redemption is:

—

more than $125,000;

—

made payable to someone other than the registered shareholder(s); or

—

sent to an address other than the address of record or to an address of record that has been changed within the previous 10 days.

American Funds Service Company reserves the right to require signature guarantee(s) on any redemption.

Additional documentation may be required for redemptions of shares held in corporate, partnership or fiduciary accounts.

Telephoning or faxing American Funds Service Company or using the Internet

Redemptions by telephone, fax or the Internet (including American FundsLine and americanfunds.com) are limited to $125,000 per American Funds shareholder each day.

Checks must be made payable to the registered shareholder.

Checks must be mailed to an address of record that has been used with the account for at least 10 days.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 30

and/or the fund may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions.

purchases and redemptions of shares having a value of less than $5,000;

purchases and redemptions by investment companies managed or sponsored by the fund’s investment adviser or its affiliates, including reallocations and transactions allowing the investment company to meet its redemptions and purchases of shares;

retirement plan contributions, loans and distributions (including hardship withdrawals) identified as such on the retirement plan recordkeeper’s system;

systematic redemptions and purchases, where the entity maintaining the shareholder account is able to identify the transaction as a systematic redemption or purchase.

Generally, purchases and redemptions will not be considered “systematic” unless the transaction is prescheduled for a specific date.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 31

There is no guarantee that all instances of frequent trading in fund shares will be prevented.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 32

Distributions and taxes

Capital gains, if any, are usually distributed in November or December. When a dividend or capital gain is distributed, the net asset value per share is reduced by the amount of the payment.

You may elect to reinvest dividends and/or capital gain distributions to purchase additional shares of this fund or other American Funds, or you may elect to receive them in cash.

Depending on their state of residence, shareholders of the fund may be able to exempt from state taxation some or all of the federally tax-exempt income dividends paid by the fund.

Moreover, any federally taxable dividends and capital gains distributions from the fund may also be subject to state tax.

Please see your tax advisor for more information.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 33

Choosing a share class

Class R-6 shares are generally available for purchase only by American Funds Portfolio Series and other investment companies deemed appropriate by the fund’s investment adviser or distributor. Therefore, any information included in this prospectus regarding purchases by retirement plans or other group accounts is not applicable. Class R shares are generally available only to retirement plans established under Internal Revenue Code Sections 401(a) (including 401(k) plans), 403(b) or 457, and to nonqualified deferred compensation plans and certain voluntary employee benefit association and post-retirement benefit plans.

Each investor’s financial considerations are different. You should speak with your financial advisor to help you decide which share class is best for you.

Sales charges

Class R shares Class R shares are sold without any initial or contingent deferred sales charge. No dealer compensation is paid from fund assets on sales of Class R-6 shares.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 34

Other compensation to dealers

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 35

Fund expenses

“Other expenses” items in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses tables in this prospectus include fees for administrative services provided by the fund’s investment adviser and its affiliates. Administrative services include, but are not limited to, coordinating, monitoring, assisting and overseeing third parties that provide services to fund shareholders. The fund's investment adviser receives an administrative services fee at the annual rate of .05% of the average daily net assets of the fund attributable to Class R-6 shares for administrative services provided to this share class.

The “Other expenses” items in the Annual Fund Operating Expenses table for the fund also include custodial, legal, transfer agent payments and various other expenses.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 36

Financial highlights

The Financial Highlights tables are intended to help you understand the fund’s results for the past five fiscal years. Certain information reflects financial results for a single share of a particular class. The total returns in the tables represent the rate that an investor would have earned or lost on an investment in the fund (assuming reinvestment of all dividends and capital gain distributions). Where indicated, figures in the tables reflect the impact, if any, of certain waivers from Capital Research and Management Company. For more information about these waivers, see the fund’s statement of additional information and annual reports. The information in the Financial Highlights tables has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose current reports, along with the fund’s financial statements, are included in the statement of additional information for the fund, which is available upon request.

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹			Dividends and distributions
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Distributions (from capital gains)	Total dividends and distributions	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$16.36	$.40	$(.42)	$ (.02)	$(.40)	$ —⁴	$(.40)	$15.94	(.13)%	$2,625	.60%	.60%	2.45%
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.44	.51	.95	(.44)	—	(.44)	16.36	6.06	2,549	.60	.60	2.72
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.46	.07	.53	(.46)	—	(.46)	15.85	3.41	2,232	.60	.60	2.93
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.48	.67	1.15	(.48)	—	(.48)	15.78	7.71	2,316	.61	.61	3.08
Year ended 7/31/2009	15.01	.50	.10	.60	(.50)	—	(.50)	15.11	4.12	1,700	.64	.63	3.36
Class B:
Year ended 7/31/2013	16.36	.29	(.42)	(.13)	(.29)	—⁴	(.29)	15.94	(.82)	3	1.29	1.29	1.78
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.33	.51	.84	(.33)	—	(.33)	16.36	5.33	6	1.30	1.30	2.04
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.35	.07	.42	(.35)	—	(.35)	15.85	2.69	10	1.31	1.31	2.24
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.37	.67	1.04	(.37)	—	(.37)	15.78	6.96	21	1.31	1.31	2.40
Year ended 7/31/2009	15.01	.40	.10	.50	(.40)	—	(.40)	15.11	3.40	25	1.34	1.33	2.69
Class C:
Year ended 7/31/2013	16.36	.28	(.42)	(.14)	(.28)	—⁴	(.28)	15.94	(.87)	49	1.34	1.34	1.72
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.32	.51	.83	(.32)	—	(.32)	16.36	5.27	75	1.34	1.34	1.99
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.34	.07	.41	(.34)	—	(.34)	15.85	2.64	69	1.36	1.36	2.19
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.36	.67	1.03	(.36)	—	(.36)	15.78	6.91	91	1.36	1.36	2.34
Year ended 7/31/2009	15.01	.39	.10	.49	(.39)	—	(.39)	15.11	3.35	73	1.39	1.38	2.64

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 37

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹			Dividends and distributions
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Distributions (from capital gains)	Total dividends and distributions	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-1:
Year ended 7/31/2013	16.36	.39	(.42)	(.03)	(.39)	—⁴	(.39)	15.94	(.22)	122	.69	.69	2.37
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.43	.51	.94	(.43)	—	(.43)	16.36	6.00	132	.65	.65	2.67
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.45	.07	.52	(.45)	—	(.45)	15.85	3.37	104	.65	.65	2.89
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.47	.67	1.14	(.47)	—	(.47)	15.78	7.68	112	.63	.63	3.06
Year ended 7/31/2009	15.01	.50	.10	.60	(.50)	—	(.50)	15.11	4.11	108	.66	.64	3.33
Class F-2:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$16.36	$.43	$(.42)	$.01	$(.43)	$ —⁴	$(.43)	$15.94	.05%	$148	.42%	.42%	2.64%
Year ended 7/31/2012	15.85	.47	.51	.98	(.47)	—	(.47)	16.36	6.28	162	.38	.38	2.94
Year ended 7/31/2011	15.78	.49	.07	.56	(.49)	—	(.49)	15.85	3.65	132	.38	.38	3.15
Year ended 7/31/2010	15.11	.52	.67	1.19	(.52)	—	(.52)	15.78	7.97	125	.36	.36	3.35
Period from 8/18/2008 to 7/31/2009⁵	15.15	.50	(.04)	.46	(.50)	—	(.50)	15.11	3.15	204	.38⁶	.38⁶	3.51⁶
Class R-6:
Year ended 7/31/2013	16.36	.44	(.41)	.03	(.45)	—⁴	(.45)	15.94	.16	132	.31	.31	2.72
Period from 5/11/2012 to 7/31/2012⁵	16.32	.10	.05	.15	(.11)	—	(.11)	16.36	.90	43	.07	.07	.64

	Year ended July 31
	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	13%	9%	14%	13%	7%

Based on average shares outstanding.

Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

⁴

Amount less than $.01.

⁵

Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, is not representative of a full year.

⁶

Annualized.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 38

The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	$13.08	$.40	$(.64)	$ (.24)	$(.40)	$12.44	(1.93)%	$6,984	.55%⁶	.55%⁶	3.35%⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.47	.82	1.29	(.47)	13.08	10.71	7,445	.55	.55	3.73
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.48	(.27)	.21	(.48)	12.26	1.85	6,557	.55	.55	4.01
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.48	.71	1.19	(.48)	12.53	10.23	7,740	.54	.54	3.92
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.50	(.21)	.29	(.50)	11.82	2.65	7,130	.56	.56	4.39
Year ended 8/31/2008	12.19	.51	(.16)	.35	(.51)	12.03	2.87	6,319	.56	.53	4.16
Class B:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	13.08	.31	(.64)	(.33)	(.31)	12.44	(2.59)	20	1.30⁶	1.30⁶	2.61⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.38	.82	1.20	(.38)	13.08	9.90	30	1.29	1.29	3.01
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.39	(.27)	.12	(.39)	12.26	1.08	40	1.30	1.30	3.26
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.38	.71	1.09	(.38)	12.53	9.41	78	1.30	1.30	3.18
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.41	(.21)	.20	(.41)	11.82	1.88	107	1.32	1.31	3.65
Year ended 8/31/2008	12.19	.41	(.16)	.25	(.41)	12.03	2.10	114	1.31	1.28	3.42
Class C:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	13.08	.31	(.64)	(.33)	(.31)	12.44	(2.64)	375	1.34⁶	1.34⁶	2.56⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.37	.82	1.19	(.37)	13.08	9.85	420	1.34	1.34	2.94
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.39	(.27)	.12	(.39)	12.26	1.03	370	1.35	1.35	3.21
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.38	.71	1.09	(.38)	12.53	9.35	475	1.34	1.34	3.11
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.41	(.21)	.20	(.41)	11.82	1.83	399	1.36	1.36	3.58
Year ended 8/31/2008	12.19	.41	(.16)	.25	(.41)	12.03	2.05	313	1.36	1.33	3.36

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 39

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-1:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	$13.08	$.39	$(.64)	$(.25)	$(.39)	$12.44	(2.05)%	$1,659	.68%⁶	.68%⁶	3.21%⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.46	.82	1.28	(.46)	13.08	10.59	1,526	.66	.66	3.62
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.47	(.27)	.20	(.47)	12.26	1.73	1,356	.66	.66	3.90
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.46	.71	1.17	(.46)	12.53	10.12	1,380	.64	.64	3.80
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.49	(.21)	.28	(.49)	11.82	2.56	976	.65	.64	4.31
Year ended 8/31/2008	12.19	.50	(.16)	.34	(.50)	12.03	2.79	1,020	.63	.61	4.07
Class F-2:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	13.08	.42	(.64)	(.22)	(.42)	12.44	(1.81)	327	.42⁶	.42⁶	3.49⁶
Year ended 8/31/2012	12.26	.49	.82	1.31	(.49)	13.08	10.88	239	.40	.40	3.87
Year ended 8/31/2011	12.53	.50	(.27)	.23	(.50)	12.26	1.99	196	.41	.41	4.15
Year ended 8/31/2010	11.82	.50	.71	1.21	(.50)	12.53	10.41	216	.37	.37	4.09
Year ended 8/31/2009	12.03	.51	(.21)	.30	(.51)	11.82	2.80	253	.39	.39	4.36
Period from 8/1/2008 to 8/31/2008⁴	11.94	.04	.09	.13	(.04)	12.03	1.10	3	.04	.03	.34
Class R-6:
Period from 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	13.08	.43	(.64)	(.21)	(.43)	12.44	(1.71)	115	.31⁶	.31⁶	3.58⁶
Period from 5/11/2012 to 8/31/2012⁴	12.94	.14	.15	.29	(.15)	13.08	2.25	42	.09	.09	1.15

	For the period 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	Year ended August 31
	For the period 9/1/2012 to 7/31/2013^4,5	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	16%	14%	12%	16%	18%	20%

Based on average shares outstanding.

Total returns exclude any applicable sales charges, including contingent deferred sales charges.

⁴

Based on operations for the period shown and, accordingly, may not be representative of a full year.

⁵

In 2013, the fund changed its fiscal year-end from August 31 to July 31.

⁶

Annualized.

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 40

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class A:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$15.13	$.63	$(.65)	$(.02)	$(.63)	$14.48	(.25)%	$2,246	.69%	.69%	4.14%
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.66	1.35	2.01	(.66)	15.13	14.98	2,286	.68	.68	4.64
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.67	(.19)	.48	(.67)	13.78	3.57	1,849	.64	.64	4.86
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.66	1.28	1.94	(.66)	13.97	15.50	2,109	.68	.68	4.82
Year ended 7/31/2009	14.21	.68	(1.52)	(.84)	(.68)	12.69	(5.69)	1,738	.72	.70	5.43
Class B:
Year ended 7/31/2013	15.13	.52	(.65)	(.13)	(.52)	14.48	(.97)	10	1.42	1.42	3.42
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.56	1.35	1.91	(.56)	15.13	14.14	16	1.42	1.42	3.96
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.56	(.19)	.37	(.56)	13.78	2.78	21	1.41	1.41	4.07
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.56	1.28	1.84	(.56)	13.97	14.67	36	1.42	1.42	4.11
Year ended 7/31/2009	14.21	.59	(1.52)	(.93)	(.59)	12.69	(6.39)	43	1.46	1.45	4.70
Class C:
Year ended 7/31/2013	15.13	.52	(.65)	(.13)	(.52)	14.48	(1.02)	161	1.46	1.46	3.37
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.55	1.35	1.90	(.55)	15.13	14.09	170	1.46	1.46	3.86
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.56	(.19)	.37	(.56)	13.78	2.73	137	1.46	1.46	4.03
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.55	1.28	1.83	(.55)	13.97	14.60	163	1.46	1.46	4.03
Year ended 7/31/2009	14.21	.58	(1.52)	(.94)	(.58)	12.69	(6.44)	126	1.51	1.50	4.63

Tax-exempt income funds / Prospectus 41

		(Loss) income from investment operations¹
	Net asset value, beginning of period	Net investment income	Net (losses) gains on securities (both realized and unrealized)	Total from investment operations	Dividends (from net investment income)	Net asset value, end of period	Total return^2,3	Net assets, end of period (in millions)	Ratio of expenses to average net assets before waivers	Ratio of expenses to average net assets after waivers³	Ratio of net income to average net assets³
Class F-1:
Year ended 7/31/2013	$15.13	$.62	$ (.65)	$ (.03)	$(.62)	$14.48	(.35)%	$172	.79%	.79%	4.04%
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.65	1.35	2.00	(.65)	15.13	14.89	191	.76	.76	4.56
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.65	(.19)	.46	(.65)	13.78	3.45	146	.76	.76	4.73
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.65	1.28	1.93	(.65)	13.97	15.42	181	.75	.75	4.75
Year ended 7/31/2009	14.21	.67	(1.52)	(.85)	(.67)	12.69	(5.77)	156	.80	.78	5.35
Class F-2:
Year ended 7/31/2013	15.13	.66	(.65)	.01	(.66)	14.48	(.09)	126	.52	.52	4.31
Year ended 7/31/2012	13.78	.69	1.35	2.04	(.69)	15.13	15.20	87	.49	.49	4.81
Year ended 7/31/2011	13.97	.69	(.19)	.50	(.69)	13.78	3.74	58	.48	.48	5.03
Year ended 7/31/2010	12.69	.68	1.28	1.96	(.68)	13.97	15.72	50	.48	.48	5.00
Period from 8/12/2008 to 7/31/2009⁴	14.28	.66	(1.58)	(.92)	(.67)	12.69	(6.19)	32	.53⁵	.53⁵	5.50⁵
Class R-6:
Year ended 7/31/2013	15.13	.68	(.65)	.03	(.68)	14.48	.02	58	.40	.40	4.44
Period from 5/11/2012 to 7/31/2012⁴	14.86	.14	.28	.42	(.15)	15.13	2.85	13	.08	.08	1.00

	Year ended July 31
	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009
Portfolio turnover rate for all share classes	25%	20%	18%	15%	29%