N-CSR 1 a_taxfreehighyield.htm PUTNAM TAX FREE INCOME TRUST a_taxfreehighyield.htm


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES



Investment Company Act file number: (811-04345)
Exact name of registrant as specified in charter: Putnam Tax Free Income Trust
Address of principal executive offices: 100 Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Name and address of agent for service: Stephen Tate, Vice President
100 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Copy to:         Bryan Chegwidden, Esq.
Ropes & Gray LLP
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (617) 292–1000
Date of fiscal year end: July 31, 2021
Date of reporting period: August 1, 2020 — July 31, 2021



Item 1. Report to Stockholders:

The following is a copy of the report transmitted to stockholders pursuant to Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940:


 

 

Message from the Trustees

September 9, 2021

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

Through the summer months of 2021, financial markets continued to rise. Stocks were powered by new highs in corporate earnings, and bonds appreciated despite an uptick in inflation. Experts at Putnam believe inflation will likely be temporary, caused by an uneven recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Even as the economy returns to a more normal trajectory, the evolving pandemic remains a justifiable concern. During these unsettled times, well-managed companies have tried to be flexible and resilient, adapting to conditions while focusing on their goals.

Putnam’s research teams also remain focused on their objectives. They analyze and debate how businesses are adjusting to these challenges as they work to identify investment opportunities for our portfolios. We believe this active approach is well-suited to this time.

Thank you for investing with Putnam.


 


Two of the most significant challenges of fixed-income investing are low interest rates and taxes on income. Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund can help reduce the impact of both by investing in higher-yielding, lower-rated municipal bonds that are exempt from federal and state income taxes.

Meticulous credit research

Municipal bonds finance important public projects, such as schools, roads, and hospitals, and they can help investors keep more of the income they receive from their investment. Members of Putnam’s fixed-income organization have a range of skills to analyze the credit risk of below-investment-grade municipal bonds and help build a well-diversified portfolio.

 

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The bottom line: Income you keep after paying taxes matters more than pre-tax yield

You keep more income from municipal bonds because it is exempt from most state and federal income taxes.


Sources: Bloomberg Index Services Limited, Putnam, as of 7/31/21. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Yields for U.S. Treasuries, investment-grade corporates, and municipal bonds are represented by the average “yield to worst” — a calculation of the lowest possible yield generated without defaulting — of the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Index, an unmanaged index of U.S. dollar-denominated, fixed-rate, nominal debt issued by the U.S. Treasury; the Bloomberg U.S. Corporate Bond Index, an unmanaged index of U.S. dollar-denominated, investment-grade, fixed-rate, taxable corporate bonds; and the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index, an unmanaged index of long-term fixed-rate, investment-grade tax-exempt bonds, respectively. You cannot invest directly in an index. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling if interest rates rise) and credit risk (the risk of an issuer defaulting on interest or principal payments). Interest-rate risk is greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Income from municipal bonds may be subject to the alternative minimum tax. Annual after-tax income is based on a 40.80% federal income tax rate. This rate reflects the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and includes the 3.80% Medicare surtax. The income data is based on a hypothetical $100,000 investment.


Source: Moody’s Investor Services, Annual U.S. Municipal Bond Defaults and Recoveries, Five-Year Average Cumulative Default Rates, 1970–2020 (July 2021). Most recent data available.

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Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. Share price, principal value, and return will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance of class A shares assumes reinvestment of distributions and does not account for taxes. Fund returns in the bar chart do not reflect a sales charge of 4.00%; had they, returns would have been lower. Performance for class A shares before their inception (9/20/93) is derived from the historical performance of class B shares. See below and pages 10–13 for additional performance information. For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower. To obtain the most recent month-end performance, visit putnam.com.

All Bloomberg indices provided by Bloomberg Index Services Limited.

Lipper peer group average provided by Lipper, a Refinitiv company.


This comparison shows your fund’s performance in the context of broad market indexes for the 12 months ended 7/31/21. See above and pages 10–13 for additional fund performance information. Index descriptions can be found on pages 16–17.

All Bloomberg indices provided by Bloomberg Index Services Limited.

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Paul, how was the market for municipal bonds during the reporting period?

Municipal bonds performed relatively well, even as U.S. Treasury yields rose. [Bond prices move inversely to interest rates.] The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note rose from 0.55% on July 31, 2020, to a high of 1.74% in March 2021 before closing the 12-month period at 1.24% on July 31, 2021. Interest rates moved higher in response to the reopening of the U.S. economy, stimulus measures, and investors pricing in higher inflation expectations.

President Biden’s signing of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan [ARP] in March 2021 provided a tailwind for the asset class. This Covid-19 relief bill provided a windfall of $350 billion in direct aid to states and local governments. This support, coupled with the fact that state budgets have generally outperformed conservative forecasts, has improved the outlook for some of the largest issuers in the municipal bond market. Transit agencies, colleges and universities, and school districts are among the municipal sectors that were targeted for substantial aid in the ARP. Furthermore, local municipalities have

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Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 7/31/21. Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, short-term securities, and other unclassified assets in the portfolio. Summary information may differ from the information in the portfolio schedule notes included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the timing of matured security transactions, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.


Credit qualities are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets as of 7/31/21. A bond rated BBB or higher (SP-3 or higher, for short-term debt) is considered investment grade. This chart reflects the highest security rating provided by one or more of Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch. Ratings may vary over time.

Cash and net other assets, if any, represent the market value weights of cash, derivatives, and short-term securities in the portfolio. The fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.

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benefited from a strong housing market and higher revenue from local property taxes.

With vaccination progress leading to a strong reopening in the United States, investors speculated the Federal Reserve might begin scaling back its support for the U.S. economy. In June 2021, the Fed assumed a more hawkish tone. In their commentary, Fed officials projected two rate increases in 2023 if recent inflation persisted, which was sooner than expected. Although the Fed would continue its asset purchases near term, it indicated it was still considering tapering its asset purchases at some point. In July 2021, however, the Fed indicated it wanted to see more progress in the U.S. jobs market before reducing its support for the economy.

Improving municipal credit fundamentals and strong market technicals pushed municipal rates lower and tightened credit spreads. [Credit spreads reflect the difference in yield between higher- and lower-rated municipal bonds.] For the 12 months ended July 31, 2021, the Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index [the fund’s benchmark] rose 3.29%, solidly outperforming the broader U.S. fixed-income markets, which delivered a slightly negative result, and U.S. Treasuries. Under the surface, long-term municipal bonds outperformed their intermediate- and short-term cohorts. From a credit perspective, higher-yielding, lower-rated municipal bonds outperformed investment-grade municipal bonds.

How did the fund perform during the period?

For the 12 months ended July 31, 2021, the fund outperformed its benchmark by a considerable margin but fell just short of the average return of its Lipper peer group, High Yield Municipal Debt Funds.

What strategies or holdings influenced the fund’s performance?

At period-end, the fund held an overweight exposure to lower-investment-grade bonds rated BBB and and non-investment-grade bonds rated BB relative to its benchmark. The fund also held a neutral exposure to lower-rated, high-yield bonds relative to its Lipper peer group. From a sector- or industry-positioning perspective, we favored continuing-care retirement communities, land development, and charter school bonds relative to the fund’s Lipper peer group. Duration positioning, a measure of the fund’s interest-rate sensitivity, was generally neutral relative to the level of its Lipper peer group at period-end. Our yield-curve strategy was defined by an overweight position in bonds with maturities of 10 to 20 years relative to the Lipper peer group at period-end. As part of this strategy, the fund held an underweight exposure to the longest maturity bonds compared with the benchmark.


As part of our strategy for state debt, the fund held an overweight exposure to Illinois relative to the Lipper peer group. We believe Illinois’s financial profile continues to stabilize, and its flexibility and credit fundamentals appear to have improved since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in the United States.

We remain cautious about Puerto Rico due to what we believe are its seemingly fragile economy, weak demographic trends, poor-quality infrastructure, volatile political environment, and history of fiscal mismanagement. As such, the fund remained underweight in its exposure to uninsured Puerto Rico municipal debt relative to its Lipper peer group. We continue to monitor the Commonwealth’s ongoing restructuring efforts for potential opportunities.

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What is your outlook for the municipal bond market for the coming months?

The recent infusions under the ARP, fiscal stimulus, and a pick-up in economic activity should help many state and local governments enter their 2022 budget sessions with enough cash on hand to help absorb the economic stress of the pandemic, in our view. In August 2021, the Senate passed a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill to repair the nation’s deteriorating roads and bridges, fund new broadband and climate initiatives, and modernize the power grid. The House subsequently passed a budget reconciliation blueprint and set a deadline to vote on the bipartisan deal by September 27, 2021. Depending on the details of the infrastructure bill, it would likely be a positive development for many municipal borrowers, particularly state and local governments, transit agencies, airports, and other entities that typically finance transportation infrastructure. In our view, federal grants for these projects would reduce the need for municipal borrowers to issue debt to cover these essential services. This could increase fiscal flexibility for these borrowers while avoiding higher tax burdens.

The current uncertainties surrounding the path of inflation and the course of the pandemic could lead to increased interest-rate volatility. Putnam’s economists believe the recent rise in inflation readings is transitory. In their view, inflation could recede as the U.S. economy continues reopening, growth becomes steadier, and Covid-19 fears subside.

Municipals were one of the best performing fixed-income classes during the first half of 2021. Given this result, we believe municipal bond returns in the second half of 2021 are unlikely to match the relatively strong results of the first half. With current valuations at relatively rich levels versus history, we would view any rate volatility or a market sell-off as a potential buying opportunity. We continue to believe the greatest opportunities reside in the lower tiers of the investment-grade universe as well as the high-yield sectors at this point in the economic recovery. Defaults, despite pandemic-related challenges, remained low and within long-term ranges during the period.


This chart shows the fund’s largest allocation shifts, by percentage, over the past six months. Allocations are shown as a percentage of the fund’s net assets. Current period summary information may differ from the portfolio schedule included in the financial statements due to the inclusion of derivative securities, any interest accruals, the timing of matured security transactions, the use of different classifications of securities for presentation purposes, and rounding. Holdings and allocations may vary over time.

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Even with Covid-19 challenges in 2020, the default rate represented less than 0.25% of the overall municipal bond market, according to Municipal Market Analytics. Defaults within the investment-grade-rated universe were a rare occurrence.

We continue to believe municipals offer a high-quality, tax-free strategy to garner income in today’s historically low rate environment.

Thank you, Paul, for your time and insights today.

The views expressed in this report are exclusively those of Putnam Management and are subject to change. They are not meant as investment advice.

Please note that the holdings discussed in this report may not have been held by the fund for the entire period. Portfolio composition is subject to review in accordance with the fund’s investment strategy and may vary in the future. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk. Statements in the Q&A concerning the fund’s performance or portfolio composition relative to those of the fund’s Lipper peer group may reference information produced by Lipper Inc. or through a third party.

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Your fund’s performance

This section shows your fund’s performance, price, and distribution information for periods ended July 31, 2021, the end of its most recent fiscal year. In accordance with regulatory requirements for mutual funds, we also include performance information as of the most recent calendar quarter-end and expense information taken from the fund’s current prospectus. Performance should always be considered in light of a fund’s investment strategy. Data represent past performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. More recent returns may be less or more than those shown. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate, and you may have a gain or a loss when you sell your shares. Performance information does not reflect any deduction for taxes a shareholder may owe on fund distributions or on the redemption of fund shares. For the most recent month-end performance, please visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com or call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581. Class R6 and Y shares are not available to all investors. See the Terms and definitions section in this report for definitions of the share classes offered by your fund.

Fund performance Total return for periods ended 7/31/21

  Annual               
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual   
  (life of fund)  10 years  average  5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year 
Class A (9/20/93)                 
Before sales charge  6.04%  76.68%  5.86%  25.49%  4.65%  20.71%  6.47%  9.59% 
After sales charge  5.92  69.61  5.43  20.47  3.80  15.88  5.04  5.21 
Class B (9/9/85)                 
Before CDSC  6.04  68.14  5.33  21.67  4.00  18.60  5.85  8.92 
After CDSC  6.04  68.14  5.33  19.67  3.66  15.60  4.95  3.92 
Class C (2/1/99)                 
Before CDSC  5.85  66.13  5.21  20.85  3.86  18.06  5.69  8.84 
After CDSC  5.85  66.13  5.21  20.85  3.86  18.06  5.69  7.84 
Class R6 (5/22/18)                 
Net asset value  5.89  81.14  6.12  27.11  4.91  21.76  6.78  9.95 
Class Y (1/2/08)                 
Net asset value  5.89  80.97  6.11  26.99  4.89  21.61  6.74  9.84 

 

Current performance may be lower or higher than the quoted past performance, which cannot guarantee future results. After-sales-charge returns for class A shares reflect the deduction of the maximum 4.00% sales charge levied at the time of purchase. Class B share returns after contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) reflect the applicable CDSC, which is 5% in the first year, declining over time to 1% in the sixth year, and is eliminated thereafter. Class C share returns after CDSC reflect a 1% CDSC for the first year that is eliminated thereafter. Class R6 and Y shares have no initial sales charge or CDSC. Performance for class A, C, and Y shares before their inception is derived from the historical performance of class B shares, adjusted for the applicable sales charge (or CDSC) and, for class C shares, the higher operating expenses for such shares. Performance for class R6 shares prior to their inception is derived from the historical performance of class Y shares and has not been adjusted for the lower investor servicing fees applicable to class R6 shares; had it, returns would have been higher.

For a portion of the periods, the fund had expense limitations, without which returns would have been lower.

Class B and C share performance reflects conversion to class A shares after eight years.

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Comparative index returns For periods ended 7/31/21

  Annual               
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual   
  (life of fund)  10 years  average  5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year 
Bloomberg Municipal                 
Bond Index  6.30%  51.84%  4.27%  18.24%  3.41%  16.77%  5.31%  3.29% 
Lipper High Yield                 
Municipal Debt Funds  5.00  77.18  5.84  24.60  4.48  19.58  6.12  9.84 
category average*                 

 

Index and Lipper results should be compared with fund performance before sales charge, before CDSC, or at net asset value.

All Bloomberg indices provided by Bloomberg Index Services Limited.

Lipper peer group average provided by Lipper, a Refinitiv company.

* Over the 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, 10-year, and life-of-fund periods ended 7/31/21, there were 187, 174, 141, 99, and 13 funds, respectively, in this Lipper category.


Past performance does not indicate future results. At the end of the same time period, a $10,000 investment in the fund’s class B and C shares would have been valued at $16,814 and $16,613, respectively, and no contingent deferred sales charges would apply. A $10,000 investment in the fund’s class R6 and Y shares would have been valued at $18,114 and $18,097, respectively.

All Bloomberg indices provided by Bloomberg Index Services Limited.

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Fund price and distribution information For the 12-month period ended 7/31/21

Distributions  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class R6  Class Y 
Number  12  12  12  12  12 
Income1  $0.404329  $0.327668  $0.308427  $0.441955  $0.439152 
Capital gains2  —  —  —  —  — 
Total  $0.404329  $0.327668  $0.308427  $0.441955  $0.439152 
  Before  After  Net  Net  Net  Net 
  sales  sales  asset  asset  asset  asset 
Share value  charge  charge  value  value  value  value 
7/31/20  $12.67  $13.20  $12.71  $12.71  $12.73  $12.73 
7/31/21  13.46  14.02  13.50  13.51  13.53  13.52 
  Before  After  Net  Net  Net  Net 
Current rate  sales  sales  asset  asset  asset  asset 
(end of period)  charge  charge  value  value  value  value 
Current dividend rate3  2.75%  2.64%  2.14%  2.00%  3.02%  3.00% 
Taxable equivalent4  4.65  4.46  3.61  3.38  5.10  5.07 
Current 30-day             
SEC yield5  N/A  1.12  0.58  0.43  1.44  1.42 
Taxable equivalent4  N/A  1.89  0.98  0.73  2.43  2.40 

 

The classification of distributions, if any, is an estimate. Before-sales-charge share value and current dividend rate for class A shares, if applicable, do not take into account any sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge share value, current dividend rate, and current 30-day SEC yield, if applicable, are calculated assuming that the maximum sales charge (4.00% for class A shares) was levied at the time of purchase. Final distribution information will appear on your year-end tax forms.

1 For some investors, investment income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

2 Capital gains, if any, are taxable for federal and, in most cases, state purposes.

3 Most recent distribution, including any return of capital and excluding capital gains, annualized and divided by share price before or after sales charge at period-end.

4 Assumes maximum 40.80% federal tax rate for 2021. Results for investors subject to lower tax rates would not be as advantageous.

5 Based only on investment income and calculated using the maximum offering price for each share class, in accordance with SEC guidelines.

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Fund performance as of most recent calendar quarter Total return for periods ended 6/30/21

  Annual               
  average    Annual    Annual    Annual   
  (life of fund)  10 years  average  5 years  average  3 years  average  1 year 
Class A (9/20/93)                 
Before sales charge  6.03%  77.67%  5.92%  24.53%  4.49%  20.05%  6.28%  11.64% 
After sales charge  5.91  70.56  5.48  19.55  3.64  15.25  4.85  7.17 
Class B (9/9/85)                 
Before CDSC  6.03  69.08  5.39  20.84  3.86  17.96  5.66  10.94 
After CDSC  6.03  69.08  5.39  18.84  3.51  14.96  4.76  5.94 
Class C (2/1/99)                 
Before CDSC  5.84  67.06  5.27  19.84  3.69  17.34  5.47  10.78 
After CDSC  5.84  67.06  5.27  19.84  3.69  17.34  5.47  9.78 
Class R6 (5/22/18)                 
Net asset value  5.88  82.01  6.17  26.04  4.74  21.01  6.56  11.90 
Class Y (1/2/08)                 
Net asset value  5.88  81.98  6.17  26.02  4.73  20.94  6.54  11.88 

 

See the discussion following the fund performance table on page 10 for information about the calculation of fund performance.


Your fund’s expenses

As a mutual fund investor, you pay ongoing expenses, such as management fees, distribution fees (12b-1 fees), and other expenses. Using the following information, you can estimate how these expenses affect your investment and compare them with the expenses of other funds. You may also pay one-time transaction expenses, including sales charges (loads) and redemption fees, which are not shown in this section and would have resulted in higher total expenses. For more information, see your fund’s prospectus or talk to your financial representative.

Expense ratios

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class R6  Class Y 
Total annual operating expenses for the fiscal           
year ended 7/31/20  0.88%†  1.48%  1.63%  0.61%  0.63% 
Annualized expense ratio for the six-month           
period ended 7/31/21*  0.85%  1.45%  1.60%  0.58%  0.60% 

 

Fiscal year expense information in this table is taken from the most recent prospectus, is subject to change, and may differ from that shown for the annualized expense ratio and in the financial highlights of this report.

Expenses are shown as a percentage of average net assets.

* Expense ratios for each class are for the fund’s most recent fiscal half year. As a result of this, ratios may differ from expense ratios based on one-year data in the financial highlights.

† Distribution and service (12b-1) fees have been restated to reflect current fees.

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Expenses per $1,000

The following table shows the expenses you would have paid on a $1,000 investment in each class of the fund from 2/1/21 to 7/31/21. It also shows how much a $1,000 investment would be worth at the close of the period, assuming actual returns and expenses.

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class R6  Class Y 
Expenses paid per $1,000*†  $4.30  $7.32  $8.07  $2.93  $3.03 
Ending value (after expenses)  $1,038.00  $1,034.90  $1,034.90  $1,040.10  $1,039.20 

 

* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 7/31/21. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.

† Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the period (181); and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year (365).

Estimate the expenses you paid

To estimate the ongoing expenses you paid for the six months ended 7/31/21, use the following calculation method. To find the value of your investment on 2/1/21, call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581.


Compare expenses using the SEC’s method

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has established guidelines to help investors assess fund expenses. Per these guidelines, the following table shows your fund’s expenses based on a $1,000 investment, assuming a hypothetical 5% annualized return. You can use this information to compare the ongoing expenses (but not transaction expenses or total costs) of investing in the fund with those of other funds. All mutual fund shareholder reports will provide this information to help you make this comparison. Please note that you cannot use this information to estimate your actual ending account balance and expenses paid during the period.

  Class A  Class B  Class C  Class R6  Class Y 
Expenses paid per $1,000*†  $4.26  $7.25  $8.00  $2.91  $3.01 
Ending value (after expenses)  $1,020.58  $1,017.60  $1,016.86  $1,021.92  $1,021.82 

 

* Expenses for each share class are calculated using the fund’s annualized expense ratio for each class, which represents the ongoing expenses as a percentage of average net assets for the six months ended 7/31/21. The expense ratio may differ for each share class.

† Expenses are calculated by multiplying the expense ratio by the average account value for the six-month period; then multiplying the result by the number of days in the six-month period (181); and then dividing that result by the number of days in the year (365).

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Consider these risks before investing

Capital gains, if any, are taxed at the federal and, in most cases, state levels. For some investors, investment income may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax. Income from federally tax-exempt funds may be subject to state and local taxes. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling if interest rates rise) and credit risk (the risk of an issuer defaulting on interest or principal payments). Interest-rate risk is generally greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is generally greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Unlike bonds, funds that invest in bonds have fees and expenses. The fund may invest significantly in particular segments of the tax-exempt debt market, making it more vulnerable to fluctuations in the values of the securities it holds than a more broadly invested fund. Interest the fund receives might be taxable.

The value of investments in the fund’s portfolio may fall or fail to rise over extended periods of time for a variety of reasons, including general economic, political, or financial market conditions; investor sentiment and market perceptions; government actions; geopolitical events or changes; and factors related to a specific issuer, geography, industry, or sector. These and other factors may lead to increased volatility and reduced liquidity in the fund’s portfolio holdings. Our investment techniques, analyses, and judgments may not produce the outcome we intend. The investments we select for the fund may not perform as well as other securities that we do not select for the fund. We, or the fund’s other service providers, may experience disruptions or operating errors that could have a negative effect on the fund.

You can lose money by investing in the fund.

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Terms and definitions

Important terms

Total return shows how the value of the fund’s shares changed over time, assuming you held the shares through the entire period and reinvested all distributions in the fund.

Before sales charge, or net asset value, is the price, or value, of one share of a mutual fund, without a sales charge. Before-sales-charge figures fluctuate with market conditions, and are calculated by dividing the net assets of each class of shares by the number of outstanding shares in the class.

After sales charge is the price of a mutual fund share plus the maximum sales charge levied at the time of purchase. After-sales-charge performance figures shown here assume the 4.00% maximum sales charge for class A shares.

Contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC) is generally a charge applied at the time of the redemption of class B or C shares and assumes redemption at the end of the period. Your fund’s class B CDSC declines over time from a 5% maximum during the first year to 1% during the sixth year. After the sixth year, the CDSC no longer applies. The CDSC for class C shares is 1% for one year after purchase.

Share classes

Class A shares are generally subject to an initial sales charge and no CDSC (except on certain redemptions of shares bought without an initial sales charge).

Class B shares are closed to new investments and are only available by exchange from another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. They are not subject to an initial sales charge and may be subject to a CDSC.

Class C shares are not subject to an initial sales charge and are subject to a CDSC only if the shares are redeemed during the first year.

Class R6 shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to employer-sponsored retirement plans, corporate and institutional clients, and clients in other approved programs.

Class Y shares are not subject to an initial sales charge or CDSC and carry no 12b-1 fee. They are generally only available to corporate and institutional clients and clients in other approved programs.

Fixed-income terms

Current rate is the annual rate of return earned from dividends or interest of an investment. Current rate is expressed as a percentage of the price of a security, fund share, or principal investment.

Yield curve is a graph that plots the yields of bonds with equal credit quality against their differing maturity dates, ranging from shortest to longest. It is used as a benchmark for other debt, such as mortgage or bank lending rates.

Comparative indexes

Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index is an unmanaged index of long-term fixed-rate investment-grade tax-exempt bonds.

Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed-income securities.

ICE BofA (Intercontinental Exchange Bank of America) U.S. 3-Month Treasury Bill Index is an unmanaged index that seeks to measure the performance of U.S. Treasury bills available in the marketplace.

S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stock performance.

Indexes assume reinvestment of all distributions and do not account for fees. Securities and performance of a fund and an index will differ. You cannot invest directly in an index.

16 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

BLOOMBERG®  is a trademark and service mark of Bloomberg Finance L.P. and its affiliates (collectively “Bloomberg”). Bloomberg or Bloomberg’s licensors own all proprietary rights in the Bloomberg Indices. Neither Bloomberg nor Bloomberg’s licensors approve or endorse this material, or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information herein, or make any warranty, express or implied, as to the results to be obtained therefrom and, to the maximum extent allowed by law, neither shall have any liability or responsibility for injury or damages arising in connection therewith.

ICE Data Indices, LLC (“ICE BofA”), used with permission. ICE BofA permits use of the ICE BofA indices and related data on an “as is” basis; makes no warranties regarding same; does not guarantee the suitability, quality, accuracy, timeliness, and/or completeness of the ICE BofA indices or any data included in, related to, or derived therefrom; assumes no liability in connection with the use of the foregoing; and does not sponsor, endorse, or recommend Putnam Investments, or any of its products or services.

Lipper,  a Refinitiv company, is a third-party industry-ranking entity that ranks mutual funds. Its rankings do not reflect sales charges. Lipper rankings are based on total return at net asset value relative to other funds that have similar current investment styles or objectives as determined by Lipper. Lipper may change a fund’s category assignment at its discretion. Lipper category averages reflect performance trends for funds within a category.


Other information for shareholders

Proxy voting

Putnam is committed to managing our mutual funds in the best interests of our shareholders. The Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures, as well as information regarding how your fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the 12-month period ended June 30, 2021, are available in the Individual Investors section of putnam.com and on the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website, www.sec.gov. If you have questions about finding forms on the SEC’s website, you may call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also obtain the Putnam funds’ proxy voting guidelines and procedures at no charge by calling Putnam’s Shareholder Services at 1-800-225-1581.

Fund portfolio holdings

The fund will file a complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-PORT within 60 days of the end of such fiscal quarter. Shareholders may obtain the fund’s Form N-PORT on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Prior to its use of Form N-PORT, the fund filed its complete schedule of its portfolio holdings with the SEC on Form N-Q, which is available online at www.sec.gov.

Trustee and employee fund ownership

Putnam employees and members of the Board of Trustees place their faith, confidence, and, most importantly, investment dollars in Putnam mutual funds. As of July 31, 2021, Putnam employees had approximately $569,000,000 and the Trustees had approximately $80,000,000 invested in Putnam mutual funds. These amounts include investments by the Trustees’ and employees’ immediate family members as well as investments through retirement and deferred compensation plans.

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 17 

 

 

Liquidity risk management program

Putnam, as the administrator of the fund’s liquidity risk management program (appointed by the Board of Trustees), presented the most recent annual report on the program to the Trustees in April 2021. The report covered the structure of the program, including the program documents and related policies and procedures adopted to comply with Rule 22e-4 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and reviewed the operation of the program from January 2020 through December 2020. The report included a description of the annual liquidity assessment of the fund that Putnam performed in November 2020. The report noted that there were no material compliance exceptions identified under Rule 22e-4 during the period. The report included a review of the governance of the program and the methodology for classification of the fund’s investments. The report also included a discussion of liquidity monitoring during the period, including during the market liquidity challenges caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact those challenges had on the liquidity of the fund’s investments. Putnam concluded that the program has been operating effectively and adequately to ensure compliance with Rule 22e-4.

18 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

Important notice regarding Putnam’s privacy policy

In order to conduct business with our shareholders, we must obtain certain personal information such as account holders’ names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and dates of birth. Using this information, we are able to maintain accurate records of accounts and transactions.

It is our policy to protect the confidentiality of our shareholder information, whether or not a shareholder currently owns shares of our funds. In particular, it is our policy not to sell information about you or your accounts to outside marketing firms. We have safeguards in place designed to prevent unauthorized access to our computer systems and procedures to protect personal information from unauthorized use.

Under certain circumstances, we must share account information with outside vendors who provide services to us, such as mailings and proxy solicitations. In these cases, the service providers enter into confidentiality agreements with us, and we provide only the information necessary to process transactions and perform other services related to your account. Finally, it is our policy to share account information with your financial representative, if you’ve listed one on your Putnam account.

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 19 

 

 

Trustee approval of management contract

General conclusions

The Board of Trustees of The Putnam Funds oversees the management of each fund and, as required by law, determines annually whether to approve the continuance of your fund’s management contract with Putnam Investment Management, LLC (“Putnam Management”) and the sub-management contract with respect to your fund between Putnam Management and its affiliate, Putnam Investments Limited (“PIL”). The Board, with the assistance of its Contract Committee, requests and evaluates all information it deems reasonably necessary under the circumstances in connection with its annual contract review. The Contract Committee consists solely of Trustees who are not “interested persons” (as this term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”)) of The Putnam Funds (“Independent Trustees”).

At the outset of the review process, members of the Board’s independent staff and independent legal counsel considered any possible changes to the annual contract review materials furnished to the Contract Committee during the course of the previous year’s review and, as applicable, identified those changes to Putnam Management. Following these discussions and in consultation with the Contract Committee, the Independent Trustees’ independent legal counsel requested that Putnam Management and its affiliates furnish specified information, together with any additional information that Putnam Management considered relevant, to the Contract Committee. Over the course of several months ending in June 2021, the Contract Committee met on a number of occasions with representatives of Putnam Management, and separately in executive session, to consider the information that Putnam Management provided. Throughout this process, the Contract Committee was assisted by the members of the Board’s independent staff and by independent legal counsel for The Putnam Funds and the Independent Trustees.

In May 2021, the Contract Committee met in executive session to discuss and consider its recommendations with respect to the continuance of the contracts. At the Trustees’ June 2021 meeting, the Contract Committee met in executive session with the other Independent Trustees to review a summary of the key financial, performance and other data that the Contract Committee considered in the course of its review. The Contract Committee then presented its written report, which summarized the key factors that the Committee had considered and set forth its recommendations. The Contract Committee recommended, and the Independent Trustees approved, the continuance of your fund’s management and sub-management contracts, effective July 1, 2021. (Because PIL is an affiliate of Putnam Management and Putnam Management remains fully responsible for all services provided by PIL, the Trustees have not attempted to evaluate PIL as a separate entity, and all subsequent references to Putnam Management below should be deemed to include reference to PIL as necessary or appropriate in the context.)

The Independent Trustees’ approval was based on the following conclusions:

• That the fee schedule in effect for your fund represented reasonable compensation in light of the nature and quality of the services being provided to the fund, the fees paid by competitive funds, the costs incurred by Putnam Management in providing services to the fund, and the application of certain reductions and waivers noted below; and

• That the fee schedule in effect for your fund represented an appropriate sharing between fund shareholders and Putnam Management of any economies of scale as may exist in the management of the fund at current asset levels.

These conclusions were based on a comprehensive consideration of all information provided to the Trustees and were not the result of any single factor. Some of the factors that figured particularly in the Trustees’ deliberations and how the Trustees considered these factors are described below, although individual Trustees may have evaluated the information presented differently, giving different weights to various factors. It is also important to recognize that the management arrangements for your fund and the other Putnam funds are the result of many years of review and discussion between the Independent Trustees and Putnam Management, that some aspects of the arrangements may receive greater scrutiny in some years than others, and that the Trustees’ conclusions may be based, in part, on their consideration of fee arrangements in previous years. For example, with certain exceptions primarily involving newly

20 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

launched or repositioned funds, the current fee arrangements under the vast majority of the funds’ management contracts were first implemented at the beginning of 2010 following extensive review by the Contract Committee and discussions with representatives of Putnam Management, as well as approval by shareholders.

Management fee schedules and total expenses

The Trustees reviewed the management fee schedules in effect for all Putnam funds, including fee levels and breakpoints. Under its management contract, your fund has the benefit of breakpoints in its management fee schedule that provide shareholders with reduced fee levels as assets under management in the Putnam family of funds increase. The Trustees also reviewed the total expenses of each Putnam fund, recognizing that in most cases management fees represented the major, but not the sole, determinant of total costs to fund shareholders. (Two funds have implemented so-called “all-in” management fees covering substantially all routine fund operating costs.)

In reviewing fees and expenses, the Trustees generally focus their attention on material changes in circumstances — for example, changes in assets under management, changes in a fund’s investment strategy, changes in Putnam Management’s operating costs or profitability, or changes in competitive practices in the mutual fund industry — that suggest that consideration of fee changes might be warranted. The Trustees concluded that the circumstances did not indicate that changes to the management fee schedule for your fund would be appropriate at this time.

As in the past, the Trustees also focused on the competitiveness of each fund’s total expense ratio. The Trustees and Putnam Management and the funds’ investor servicing agent, Putnam Investor Services, Inc. (“PSERV”), have implemented expense limitations that were in effect during your fund’s fiscal year ending in 2020. These expense limitations were: (i) a contractual expense limitation applicable to specified open-end funds, including your fund, of 25 basis points on investor servicing fees and expenses and (ii) a contractual expense limitation applicable to specified open-end funds, including your fund, of 20 basis points on so-called “other expenses” (i.e., all expenses exclusive of management fees, distribution fees, investor servicing fees, investment-related expenses, interest, taxes, brokerage commissions, acquired fund fees and expenses and extraordinary expenses). These expense limitations attempt to maintain competitive expense levels for the funds. Most funds, including your fund, had sufficiently low expenses that these expense limitations were not operative during their fiscal years ending in 2020. Putnam Management and PSERV have agreed to maintain these expense limitations until at least November 30, 2022. Putnam Management and PSERV’s commitment to these expense limitation arrangements, which were intended to support an effort to have fund expenses meet competitive standards, was an important factor in the Trustees’ decision to approve the continuance of your fund’s management and sub-management contracts.

The Trustees reviewed comparative fee and expense information for a custom group of competitive funds selected by Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (“Broadridge”). This comparative information included your fund’s percentile ranking for effective management fees and total expenses (excluding any applicable 12b-1 fees), which provides a general indication of your fund’s relative standing. In the custom peer group, your fund ranked in the second quintile in effective management fees (determined for your fund and the other funds in the custom peer group based on fund asset size and the applicable contractual management fee schedule) and in the second quintile in total expenses (excluding any applicable 12b-1 fees) as of December 31, 2020. The first quintile represents the least expensive funds and the fifth quintile the most expensive funds. The fee and expense data reported by Broadridge as of December 31, 2020 reflected the most recent fiscal year-end data available in Broadridge’s database at that time.

In connection with their review of fund management fees and total expenses, the Trustees also reviewed the costs of the services provided and the profits realized by Putnam Management and its affiliates from their contractual relationships with the funds. This information included trends in revenues, expenses and profitability of Putnam Management and its affiliates relating to the investment management, investor servicing and distribution services provided to the funds. In this regard, the Trustees also reviewed an analysis of the revenues, expenses and profitability of Putnam Management and its affiliates, allocated on a fund-by-fund basis, with respect to the funds’ management, distribution and investor servicing

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 21 

 

 

contracts. For each fund, the analysis presented information about revenues, expenses and profitability for each of the agreements separately and for the agreements taken together on a combined basis. The Trustees concluded that, at current asset levels, the fee schedules in place for the Putnam funds, including the fee schedule for your fund, represented reasonable compensation for the services being provided and represented an appropriate sharing between fund shareholders and Putnam Management of any economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Putnam funds at that time.

The information examined by the Trustees in connection with their annual contract review for the Putnam funds included information regarding services provided and fees charged by Putnam Management and its affiliates to other clients, including defined benefit pension and profit-sharing plans, sub-advised mutual funds, private funds sponsored by affiliates of Putnam Management, model-only separately managed accounts and Putnam Management’s newly launched exchange-traded funds. This information included, in cases where a product’s investment strategy corresponds with a fund’s strategy, comparisons of those fees with fees charged to the Putnam funds, as well as an assessment of the differences in the services provided to these clients as compared to the services provided to the Putnam funds. The Trustees observed that the differences in fee rates between these clients and the Putnam funds are by no means uniform when examined by individual asset sectors, suggesting that differences in the pricing of investment management services to these types of clients may reflect, among other things, historical competitive forces operating in separate marketplaces. The Trustees considered the fact that in many cases fee rates across different asset classes are higher on average for mutual funds than for other clients, and the Trustees also considered the differences between the services that Putnam Management provides to the Putnam funds and those that it provides to its other clients. The Trustees did not rely on these comparisons to any significant extent in concluding that the management fees paid by your fund are reasonable.

Investment performance

The quality of the investment process provided by Putnam Management represented a major factor in the Trustees’ evaluation of the quality of services provided by Putnam Management under your fund’s management contract. The Trustees were assisted in their review of Putnam Management’s investment process and performance by the work of the investment oversight committees of the Trustees and the full Board of Trustees, which meet on a regular basis with individual portfolio managers and with senior management of Putnam Management’s Investment Division throughout the year. The Trustees concluded that Putnam Management generally provides a high-quality investment process — based on the experience and skills of the individuals assigned to the management of fund portfolios, the resources made available to them and in general Putnam Management’s ability to attract and retain high-quality personnel — but also recognized that this does not guarantee favorable investment results for every fund in every time period.

The Trustees considered that, in the aggregate, The Putnam Funds generally performed well in 2020, which Putnam Management characterized as a challenging year with significant volatility and varied market dynamics. On an asset-weighted basis, the Putnam funds ranked in the second quartile of their peers as determined by Lipper Inc. (“Lipper”) for the year ended December 31, 2020 and, on an asset-weighted-basis, delivered a gross return that was 2.3% ahead of their benchmarks in 2020. In addition to the performance of the individual Putnam funds, the Trustees considered, as they had in prior years, the performance of The Putnam Fund complex versus competitor fund complexes. In this regard, the Trustees observed that The Putnam Funds’ relative performance, as reported in the Barron’s/Lipper Fund Families survey, continued to be exceptionally strong over the long term, with The Putnam Funds ranking as the 3rd best performing mutual fund complex out of 44 complexes for the ten-year period, with 2020 marking the fourth consecutive year that The Putnam Funds have ranked in the top ten fund complexes for the ten-year period. The Trustees noted that The Putnam Funds’ performance was solid over the one- and five-year periods, with The Putnam Funds ranking 22nd out of 53 complexes and 14th out of 50 complexes, respectively. In addition to the Barron’s/Lipper Fund Families Survey, the Trustees also considered the funds’ ratings assigned by Morningstar Inc., noting that 26 of the funds were four- or five-star rated at the end of 2020 (representing an increase of four funds year-over-year) and that this included seven funds that had achieved a five-star rating (representing

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an increase of two funds year-over-year). They also noted, however, the disappointing investment performance of some funds for periods ended December 31, 2020 and considered information provided by Putnam Management regarding the factors contributing to the underperformance and actions being taken to improve the performance of these particular funds. The Trustees indicated their intention to continue to monitor closely the performance of those funds and evaluate whether additional actions to address areas of underperformance may be warranted.

For purposes of the Trustees’ evaluation of the Putnam funds’ investment performance, the Trustees generally focus on a competitive industry ranking of each fund’s total net return over a one-year, three-year and five-year period. For a number of Putnam funds with relatively unique investment mandates for which Putnam Management informed the Trustees that meaningful competitive performance rankings are not considered to be available, the Trustees evaluated performance based on their total gross and net returns and comparisons of those returns to the returns of selected investment benchmarks. In the case of your fund, the Trustees considered that its class A share cumulative total return performance at net asset value was in the following quartiles of its Lipper peer group (Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds) for the one-year, three-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2020 (the first quartile representing the best-performing funds and the fourth quartile the worst-performing funds):

One-year period  2nd 
Three-year period  2nd 
Five-year period  2nd 

 

Over the one-year, three-year and five-year periods ended December 31, 2020, there were 189, 169 and 143 funds, respectively, in your fund’s Lipper peer group. (When considering performance information, shareholders should be mindful that past performance is not a guarantee of future results.)

The Trustees considered Putnam Management’s continued efforts to support fund performance through certain initiatives, including structuring compensation for portfolio managers to enhance accountability for fund performance, emphasizing accountability in the portfolio management process and affirming its commitment to a fundamental-driven approach to investing. The Trustees noted further that Putnam Management had made selective hires and internal promotions in 2020 to strengthen its investment team.

Brokerage and soft-dollar allocations; investor servicing

The Trustees considered various potential benefits that Putnam Management may receive in connection with the services it provides under the management contract with your fund. These include benefits related to brokerage allocation and the use of soft dollars, whereby a portion of the commissions paid by a fund for brokerage may be used to acquire research services that are expected to be useful to Putnam Management in managing the assets of the fund and of other clients. Subject to policies established by the Trustees, soft dollars generated by these means are used predominantly to acquire brokerage and research services (including third-party research and market data) that enhance Putnam Management’s investment capabilities and supplement Putnam Management’s internal research efforts. The Trustees indicated their continued intent to monitor regulatory and industry developments in this area with the assistance of their Brokerage Committee. In addition, with the assistance of their Brokerage Committee, the Trustees indicated their continued intent to monitor the allocation of the Putnam funds’ brokerage in order to ensure that the principle of seeking best price and execution remains paramount in the portfolio trading process.

Putnam Management may also receive benefits from payments that the funds make to Putnam Management’s affiliates for investor or distribution services. In conjunction with the annual review of your fund’s management and sub-management contracts, the Trustees reviewed your fund’s investor servicing agreement with PSERV and its distributor’s contract and distribution plans with Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership (“PRM”), both of which are affiliates of Putnam Management. The Trustees concluded that the fees payable by the funds to PSERV and PRM, as applicable, for such services are fair and reasonable in relation to the nature and quality of such services, the fees paid by competitive funds and the costs incurred by PSERV and PRM, as applicable, in providing such services. Furthermore, the Trustees were of the view that the investor services provided by PSERV were required for the operation of the funds, and that they were of a quality at least equal to those provided by other providers.

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 23 

 

 

Audited financial statements

These sections of the report, as well as the accompanying Notes, preceded by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, constitute the fund’s audited financial statements.

The fund’s portfolio lists all the fund’s investments and their values as of the last day of the reporting period. Holdings are organized by asset type and industry sector, country, or state to show areas of concentration and diversification.

Statement of assets and liabilities shows how the fund’s net assets and share price are determined. All investment and non-investment assets are added together. Any unpaid expenses and other liabilities are subtracted from this total. The result is divided by the number of shares to determine the net asset value per share, which is calculated separately for each class of shares. (For funds with preferred shares, the amount subtracted from total assets includes the liquidation preference of preferred shares.)

Statement of operations shows the fund’s net investment gain or loss. This is done by first adding up all the fund’s earnings — from dividends and interest income — and subtracting its operating expenses to determine net investment income (or loss). Then, any net gain or loss the fund realized on the sales of its holdings — as well as any unrealized gains or losses over the period — is added to or subtracted from the net investment result to determine the fund’s net gain or loss for the fiscal period.

Statement of changes in net assets shows how the fund’s net assets were affected by the fund’s net investment gain or loss, by distributions to shareholders, and by changes in the number of the fund’s shares. It lists distributions and their sources (net investment income or realized capital gains) over the current reporting period and the most recent fiscal year-end. The distributions listed here may not match the sources listed in the Statement of operations because the distributions are determined on a tax basis and may be paid in a different period from the one in which they were earned.

Financial highlights provide an overview of the fund’s investment results, per-share distributions, expense ratios, net investment income ratios, and portfolio turnover in one summary table, reflecting the five most recent reporting periods. In a semiannual report, the highlights table also includes the current reporting period.

24 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees of Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust and Shareholders of
Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the fund’s portfolio, of Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund (one of the funds constituting Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of July 31, 2021, the related statement of operations for the year ended July 31, 2021, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended July 31, 2021, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of July 31, 2021, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended July 31, 2021 and the financial highlights for each of the periods indicated therein in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of July 31, 2021 by correspondence with the custodian, transfer agent and brokers; when replies were not received from brokers, we performed other auditing procedures. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
September 9, 2021

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Putnam Investments family of mutual funds since at least 1957. We have not been able to determine the specific year we began serving as auditor.

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 25 

 


The fund’s portfolio 7/31/21

Key to holding’s abbreviations

ABAG Association Of Bay Area Governments 
AGM Assured Guaranty Municipal Corporation 
AMBAC AMBAC Indemnity Corporation 
BAM Build America Mutual 
COP Certificates of Participation 
G.O. Bonds General Obligation Bonds 
Q-SBLF Qualified School Board Loan Fund 
U.S. Govt. Coll. U.S. Government Collateralized 
VRDN Variable Rate Demand Notes, which are floating-rate securities with long-term maturities that carry coupons that reset and are payable upon demand either daily, weekly or monthly. The rate shown is the current interest rate at the close of the reporting period. Rates are set by remarketing agents and may take into consideration market supply and demand, credit quality and the current SIFMA Municipal Swap Index rate, which was 0.02% as of the close of the reporting period. 

 


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* Rating** Principal amount Value
Alabama (1.4%)
Jefferson Cnty., Swr. Rev. Bonds        
Ser. D, 6.50%, 10/1/53 BBB   $3,000,000 $3,516,912
zero %, 10/1/46 BBB   8,800,000 9,091,959
12,608,871
Alaska (1.6%)
AK State Indl. Dev. & Export Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Tanana Chiefs Conference), Ser. A, 4.00%, 10/1/49 A+/F   8,500,000 9,681,650
Northern Tobacco Securitization Corp. Rev. Bonds        
Ser. A, Class 1, 4.00%, 6/1/50 BBB+   1,700,000 2,018,631
Ser. B-1, Class 2, 4.00%, 6/1/50 BBB−   675,000 793,576
Ser. B-2, Class 2, zero %, 6/1/66 BB/P   8,000,000 1,812,487
14,306,344
Arizona (2.2%)
AZ State Indl. Dev. Auth. Ed. 144A Rev. Bonds,
(BASIS Schools, Inc.), Ser. G, 5.00%, 7/1/37		 BB   1,500,000 1,765,232
Maricopa Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Ed. Rev. Bonds, (Horizon Cmnty. Learning Ctr.), 5.00%, 7/1/35 BB+   1,500,000 1,671,531
Phoenix, Indl. Dev. Auth. Ed. Rev. Bonds        
(Choice Academies, Inc.), 5.375%, 9/1/32 BB   1,000,000 1,033,833
(Great Hearts Academies), 5.00%, 7/1/44 BBB−   3,800,000 4,149,296
Phoenix, Indl. Dev. Auth. Ed. 144A Rev. Bonds, (BASIS Schools, Inc.)        
Ser. A, 5.00%, 7/1/46 BB   750,000 836,025
5.00%, 7/1/35 BB   1,500,000 1,685,910
Ser. A, 5.00%, 7/1/35 BB   1,750,000 1,966,895
Phoenix, Indl. Dev. Auth. Student Hsg. Rev. Bonds, (Downtown Phoenix Student Hsg., LLC-AZ State U.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 7/1/37 Baa3   750,000 910,730
Salt Verde, Fin. Corp. Gas Rev. Bonds        
5.50%, 12/1/29 A3   1,525,000 2,026,017
5.00%, 12/1/32 A3   1,500,000 2,010,568
Yavapai Cnty., Indl. Dev. Ed. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Agribusiness & Equine Ctr.), 5.00%, 3/1/32 BB+   1,600,000 1,658,403
Yavapai Cnty., Indl. Dev. Ed. Auth. 144A Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 9/1/34 BB+   500,000 552,812
20,267,252


26 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
California (9.5%)
ABAG Fin. Auth. for Nonprofit Corps. Rev. Bonds, (Episcopal Sr. Cmntys.), 6.00%, 7/1/31 A−/F   $1,295,000 $1,300,271
CA Cmnty. Hsg. Agcy. Essential Hsg. 144A Rev. Bonds        
(Aster Apt.), Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 2/1/56 BB+/P   775,000 889,802
(Creekwood Apt.), Ser. A, 4.00%, 2/1/56 BB−/P   1,900,000 2,080,210
(Glendale Properties), Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 2/1/56 BB/P   2,500,000 2,844,042
(Stoneridge Apt.), Ser. A, 4.00%, 2/1/56 BB/P   2,900,000 3,226,729
(Glendale Properties), Ser. A-2, 4.00%, 8/1/47 B+/P   1,900,000 2,108,168
(Fountains at Emerald Park), 4.00%, 8/1/46 BB−/P   4,890,000 5,479,990
CA Hsg. Fin. Agcy. Muni. Certif. Rev. Bonds, Ser. 21-1, Class A, 3.50%, 11/20/35 BBB+   2,911,174 3,470,992
CA Pub. State Fin. Auth. Sr. Living 144A Rev. Bonds, (Enso Village Project), Ser. A        
5.00%, 11/15/51 B−/P   500,000 585,896
5.00%, 11/15/46 B−/P   1,000,000 1,175,854
5.00%, 11/15/36 B−/P   750,000 904,824
CA School Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (2023 Union, LLC), Ser. A, 6.00%, 7/1/33 BBB−   1,000,000 1,088,978
CA State Infrastructure & Econ. Dev. Bank 144A Rev. Bonds, (WFCS Holdings II, LLC), Ser. B, zero %, 1/1/61 B−/P   7,500,000 772,926
CA State Muni. Fin. Auth Mobile Home Park Rev. Bonds, (Caritas Affordable Hsg., Inc.), 5.25%, 8/15/39 A−   800,000 880,256
CA State Muni. Fin. Auth. Charter School Rev. Bonds, (Partnerships Uplift Cmnty.), Ser. A        
5.25%, 8/1/42 BB   850,000 872,224
5.00%, 8/1/32 BB   665,000 683,880
CA State Poll. Control Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(San Jose Wtr. Co.), 4.75%, 11/1/46		 A   1,700,000 1,951,810
CA State Tobacco Securitization Agcy. Rev. Bonds        
Ser. B-2, zero %, 6/1/55 BB/P   20,390,000 4,166,334
(Gold Country Settlement Funding Corp.), Ser. B-2, zero %, 6/1/55 BB/P   7,850,000 2,112,957
CA Statewide Cmnty. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens), Ser. A, 6.00%, 10/1/47 (Prerefunded 10/1/22) BB/P   500,000 533,797
(Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens), Ser. A, 6.00%, 10/1/42 (Prerefunded 10/1/22) BB/P   1,750,000 1,868,290
(Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens), Ser. A, 5.625%, 10/1/32 (Prerefunded 10/1/22) BB/P   1,105,000 1,175,290
(899 Charleston, LLC), Ser. A, 5.25%, 11/1/44 BB/P   850,000 924,316
(American Baptist Homes of the West), 5.00%, 10/1/43 (Prerefunded 10/1/22) A−/F   1,000,000 1,055,759
CMFA Special Fin. Agcy. I 144A Rev. Bonds,
(Social Bond), Ser. A-2, 4.00%, 4/1/56		 BB/P   2,500,000 2,727,983
CSCDA Cmnty. Impt. Auth. 144A Rev. Bonds        
(Pasadena Portfolio), 4.00%, 12/1/56 BB/P   2,000,000 2,231,002
(Union South Bay), Ser. A-2, 4.00%, 7/1/56 BB−/P   2,500,000 2,742,048
(Jefferson-Anaheim), 3.125%, 8/1/56 BB+/P   1,900,000 1,953,506
(Jefferson-Anaheim), 2.875%, 8/1/41 BB+/P   1,650,000 1,729,764


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 27


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
California cont.
Golden State Tobacco Securitization Corp. Rev. Bonds, Ser. A-2, 5.00%, 6/1/47 BB/P   $6,000,000 $6,195,243
Hastings Campus HFA Rev. Bonds, (U. of CA Hastings College of the Law), Ser. A, 5.00%, 7/1/61 BB−/P   2,500,000 3,007,516
La Verne, COP, (Brethren Hillcrest Homes), 5.00%, 5/15/36 (Prerefunded 5/15/22) AAA/P   775,000 812,344
Long Beach, Bond Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Natural Gas Purchase), Ser. A, 5.50%, 11/15/37		 A2   2,000,000 3,053,965
Palm Desert, Special Tax, (Cmnty. Fac. Dist. 2021-1), 4.00%, 9/1/51 B+/P   650,000 700,499
Rancho Cordova, Cmnty. Fac. Dist. Special Tax Bonds, (Sunridge Anatolia), Ser. 03-1, 5.00%, 9/1/37 BBB−/P   1,000,000 1,039,982
Riverside Cnty., Trans. Comm. Toll Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.75%, 6/1/44 A   750,000 813,249
Sacramento, Special Tax, (Greenbriar Cmnty. Fac. Dist. No 2018-03)        
4.00%, 9/1/50 BB/P   600,000 680,686
4.00%, 9/1/46 BB/P   750,000 853,098
San Francisco, City & Cnty. Dev. 144A Special Tax, (Dist. No. 2020-1 Mission Rock Fac. & Svcs.), Ser. A, 4.00%, 9/1/46 B+/P   500,000 577,314
San Francisco, City & Cnty. Redev. Agcy. Cmnty. Fac. Dist. Special Tax Bonds, (No. 6 Mission Bay South), Ser. A, 5.15%, 8/1/35 BBB/P   1,000,000 1,019,568
San Francisco, City & Cnty. Redev. Agcy. Cmnty. Successor Special Tax Bonds, (No. 6 Mission Bay Pub. Impts.), Ser. C, zero %, 8/1/43 BBB/P   8,000,000 2,326,810
Sunnyvale, Special Tax Bonds, (Cmnty. Fac. Dist.
No. 1), 7.75%, 8/1/32		 B+/P   3,780,000 3,795,763
Tobacco Securitization Auth. of Northern CA Rev. Bonds, (Sacramento Cnty., Tobacco Securitization Corp.), Ser. B-2, zero %, 6/1/60 BB/P   3,750,000 948,451
Tobacco Securitization Auth. of Southern CA Rev. Bonds, Ser. B-2, Class 2, zero %, 6/1/54 BB/P   14,660,000 2,924,494
U. of CA VRDN Rev. Bonds, Ser. AL-4, 0.02%, 5/15/48 VMIG 1   3,000,000 3,000,000
85,286,880
Colorado (5.2%)
Aviation Station North Metro. Dist. No. 2 G.O. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/48 B+/P   1,000,000 1,081,727
Broadway Station Metro. Dist. No. 2 Co. G.O. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.125%, 12/1/48 B/P   1,500,000 1,641,785
CO Pub. Hwy. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (E-470), zero %, 9/1/41 A2   1,000,000 635,306
CO State Hlth. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(Christian Living Cmnty.), 6.375%, 1/1/41 (Prerefunded 1/1/22) BB/P   810,000 830,679
(Christian Living Cmntys.), 5.25%, 1/1/37 (Prerefunded 1/1/22) BB/P   750,000 765,745
(Christian Living Cmntys.), 5.125%, 1/1/30 (Prerefunded 1/1/22) BB/P   1,415,000 1,443,978


28 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Colorado cont.
CO State Hlth. Fac. Auth. Hosp. Rev. Bonds        
(Frasier Meadows Retirement Cmnty.), Ser. A, 5.25%, 5/15/47 BB+/F   $250,000 $295,356
(Frasier Meadows Retirement Cmnty.), Ser. A, 5.25%, 5/15/37 BB+/F   1,000,000 1,181,425
(Frasier Meadows Retirement Cmnty.), Ser. B, 5.00%, 5/15/39 BB+/F   2,000,000 2,108,513
(Christian Living Neighborhood), 5.00%, 1/1/31 BB/P   2,000,000 2,185,124
(Christian Living Neighborhoods Oblig. Group), 4.00%, 1/1/42 ### BB/P   1,000,000 1,113,706
(Christian Living Neighborhoods), 4.00%, 1/1/38 BBB/P   550,000 613,367
(CommonSpirit Health Oblig. Group), Ser. A-2, 4.00%, 8/1/49 T Baa1   4,000,000 4,650,233
(CommonSpirit Health Oblig. Group), Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/44 T Baa1   2,000,000 2,337,140
(CommonSpirit Health Oblig. Group), Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/39 T Baa1   625,000 742,232
(CommonSpirit Health Oblig. Group), Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/38 T Baa1   625,000 741,249
(CommonSpirit Health Oblig. Group), Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/37 T Baa1   425,000 507,100
(Covenant Living Cmnty. and Svcs. Oblig. Group), 4.00%, 12/1/50 A−/F   1,700,000 1,968,567
(Covenant Living Cmnty. and Svcs. Oblig. Group), 4.00%, 12/1/40 A−/F   2,000,000 2,348,686
Eaton, Area Park & Recreation Dist. G.O. Bonds, 5.25%, 12/1/34 (Prerefunded 12/1/22) BB/P   330,000 352,499
Parkdale, Cmnty. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Metro. Dist.
No. 1), Ser. A, 5.25%, 12/1/50		 B/P   2,285,000 2,513,013
Plaza, Tax Alloc. Bonds, (Metro. Dist. No. 1), 5.00%, 12/1/40 BB−/P   3,000,000 3,088,534
Pub. Auth. for CO Energy Rev. Bonds,
(Natural Gas Purchase), 6.50%, 11/15/38		 A2   2,000,000 3,164,597
RainDance Metro. Dist. No. 1 Rev. Bonds, (Non-Potable Wtr. Enterprise)        
5.25%, 12/1/50 B+/P   1,375,000 1,516,483
5.00%, 12/1/40 B+/P   625,000 689,618
Southlands, Metro. Dist. No. 1 G.O. Bonds, Ser. A-1, 5.00%, 12/1/37 Ba1   500,000 579,104
STC Metro. Dist. No. 2 G.O. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/38 B+/P   2,000,000 2,202,981
Trails at Crowfoot Metro. Dist. No. 3 G.O. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/49 B+/P   2,000,000 2,162,172
Village Metro. Dist. G.O. Bonds        
5.00%, 12/1/49 BB/P   1,250,000 1,414,394
5.00%, 12/1/40 BB/P   1,000,000 1,138,207
Willow Bend Metro. Dist. G.O. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/49 BB−/P   1,000,000 1,084,490
47,098,010


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 29


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Connecticut (0.6%)
CT State Hlth. & Edl. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Masonicare Issue), Ser. F, 5.00%, 7/1/33 BBB+/F   $1,500,000 $1,738,397
CT State Hlth. & Edl. Fac. Auth. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Church Home of Hartford, Inc.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 9/1/46 BB/F   1,000,000 1,125,107
Harbor Point Infrastructure Impt. Dist. 144A Tax Alloc. Bonds, (Harbor Point Ltd.), 5.00%, 4/1/39 BB/P   2,500,000 2,912,580
5,776,084
Delaware (0.8%)
DE State Econ. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(ASPIRA Charter School), Ser. A		        
5.00%, 6/1/46 BB   1,820,000 2,023,028
5.00%, 6/1/36 BB   700,000 789,971
Millsboro Special Oblig. 144A Special Tax, (Plantation Lakes), 5.25%, 7/1/48 BB−/P   2,000,000 2,245,759
Millsboro Special Oblig. 144A Tax Alloc. Bonds, (Plantation Lakes Special Dev. Dist.), 5.125%, 7/1/38 BB−/P   1,500,000 1,698,583
6,757,341
District of Columbia (2.1%)
DC Rev. Bonds        
(Ingleside at Rock Creek), Ser. A, 5.00%, 7/1/52 BB−/P   3,170,000 3,417,726
(Latin American Montessori Bilingual Pub. Charter School Oblig. Group), 5.00%, 6/1/40 BB+   2,750,000 3,342,511
(Kipp DC), Ser. B, 5.00%, 7/1/37 BBB+   3,315,000 4,003,428
(KIPP DC), 4.00%, 7/1/49 BBB+   1,000,000 1,141,501
(KIPP DC), 4.00%, 7/1/44 BBB+   250,000 287,216
DC 144A Rev. Bonds, (Rocketship DC Oblig. Group), Ser. 21-A        
5.00%, 6/1/61 BB/P   700,000 826,419
5.00%, 6/1/51 BB/P   625,000 742,752
Metro. Washington, Arpt. Auth. Dulles Toll Rd. Rev. Bonds, Cap Apprec 2nd Sr Lien, Ser. B, zero %, 10/1/40 A−   995,000 665,561
Metro. Washington DC, Arpt. Auth. Dulles Toll Rd. Rev. Bonds, (Dulles Metrorail & Cap. Impt. Proj.)        
Ser. B, 4.00%, 10/1/44 T A−   1,940,000 2,269,917
4.00%, 10/1/53 T A−   1,935,000 2,262,928
18,959,959
Florida (6.5%)
Cap. Projects Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (CAPFA Cap. Corp. 2000F), Ser. A-1, 5.00%, 10/1/33 Baa3   2,000,000 2,544,055
Cap. Trust Agcy. Rev. Bonds, (Wonderful Foundation Charter School Holdings, LLC), zero %, 1/1/60 B/P   6,000,000 626,363
Cap. Trust Agcy. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Wonderful Foundation Charter School Holdings, LLC), 5.00%, 1/1/55 BB−/P   3,800,000 4,481,435
Cap. Trust Agcy. Edl. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Liza Jackson Preparatory School, Inc.)        
5.00%, 8/1/55 Baa3   1,000,000 1,192,580
5.00%, 8/1/40 Baa3   300,000 363,584
4.00%, 8/1/30 Baa3   200,000 227,338


30 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Florida cont.
Celebration Pointe Cmnty. Dev. Dist. No. 1 144A Special Assessment Bonds, (Alachua Cnty.), 5.00%, 5/1/48 B/P   $475,000 $515,881
Charlotte Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Util. Syst. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Town & Country Util.), 5.00%, 10/1/49 B/P   500,000 559,296
Escambia Cnty., Hlth. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Baptist Hlth. Care), 4.00%, 8/15/45		 BBB+   3,000,000 3,510,308
Fishhawk, CCD IV Special Assmt. Bonds, 7.25%, 5/1/43 B/P   560,000 610,637
FL State Higher Edl. Fac. Financial Auth. Rev. Bonds, (St. Leo U., Inc. Oblig. Group), 5.00%, 3/1/49 BBB−   3,930,000 4,567,661
Lake Cnty., Retirement Fac. Rev. Bonds,
(Waterman Cmnty., Inc.), 5.75%, 8/15/55		 B/P   1,750,000 2,007,120
Lakewood Ranch, Stewardship Dist. Special Assessment Bonds, (Village of Lakewood Ranch South), 5.00%, 5/1/36 B+/P   890,000 983,157
Lakewood Ranch, Stewardship Dist. Special Assmt. Bonds, 4.875%, 5/1/35 BB−/P   915,000 988,351
Lakewood Ranch, Stewardship Dist. 144A Special Assmt., 4.00%, 5/1/50 B/P   500,000 532,242
Lakewood Ranch, Stewardship Dist. 144A Special Assmt. Bonds, (Northeast Sector), 5.30%, 5/1/39 B−/P   1,250,000 1,463,316
Lee Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Shell Point/Waterside Hlth.)		        
5.00%, 11/15/49 BBB+   1,800,000 2,121,026
5.00%, 11/15/39 BBB+   750,000 892,997
Miami-Dade Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Pinecrest Academy, Inc.), 5.00%, 9/15/34 BBB   2,195,000 2,442,199
Midtown Miami Cmnty. Dev. Dist. Special Assmt. Bonds, (Garage), Ser. A, 5.00%, 5/1/29 BB−/P   750,000 787,700
Orlando Cmnty. Redev. Agcy. Tax Alloc. Bonds, (Republic Drive/Universal), 5.00%, 4/1/24 A+/F   2,760,000 2,838,066
Palm Beach Cnty., Rev. Bonds, (Lynn U. Hsg.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 6/1/57 B+/P   1,045,000 1,265,276
Palm Beach Cnty., 144A Rev. Bonds, (PBAU Hsg.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 4/1/39 Ba1   500,000 587,406
Pinellas Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (2017 Foundation for Global Understanding, Inc.), 5.00%, 7/1/39 AAA/P   2,770,000 3,363,908
Sarasota Cnty., Hlth. Fac. Auth. Retirement Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Village of Isle)        
5.00%, 1/1/31 BB+/F   1,285,000 1,436,402
5.00%, 1/1/30 BB+/F   750,000 841,291
Southeast Overtown Park West Cmnty. Redev. Agcy. 144A Tax Alloc. Bonds, Ser. A-1, 5.00%, 3/1/30 BBB+   1,440,000 1,585,933
St. John’s Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Life Care Ponte Vedra Oblig. Group), Ser. A        
4.00%, 12/15/50 BB+/F   750,000 835,500
4.00%, 12/15/46 BB+/F   750,000 837,395
4.00%, 12/15/36 BB+/F   400,000 455,051


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 31


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Florida cont.
Tampa, Cap. Impt. Cigarette Tax Rev. Bonds,
(Cap. Appn.), Ser. A		        
zero %, 9/1/53 A1   $2,600,000 $797,259
zero %, 9/1/45 A1   2,000,000 879,761
zero %, 9/1/41 A1   1,000,000 526,793
zero %, 9/1/40 A1   850,000 469,113
Verandah, West Cmnty. Dev. Dist. Special Assmt. Bonds, (Cap. Impt.), 5.00%, 5/1/33 B+/P   985,000 1,023,824
Village Cmnty. Dev. Dist. No. 10 Special Assmt. Bonds, 5.75%, 5/1/31 BB/P   995,000 1,072,722
Village Cmnty. Dev. Dist. No. 11 Special Assmt. Bonds, 4.50%, 5/1/45 BB−/P   2,575,000 2,673,038
Village Cmnty. Dev. Dist. No. 12 144A Special Assessment Bonds, 4.00%, 5/1/33 BB−/P   1,190,000 1,353,116
Village Cmnty. Dev. Dist. No. 9 Special Assmt. Bonds, 5.00%, 5/1/22 BBB−/P   75,000 76,708
Village, 144A Special Assmt., (Village Cmnty. Dev. Dist. No. 13), 3.50%, 5/1/51 BB−/P   3,975,000 4,189,741
58,525,549
Georgia (2.2%)
Cobb Cnty., Dev. Auth. Student Hsg. Rev. Bonds        
(Kennesaw State U. Real Estate Oblig. Group), Ser. C, 5.00%, 7/15/38 Baa2   1,250,000 1,399,814
(Kennesaw State U. Real Estate), 5.00%, 7/15/30 Baa2   1,200,000 1,363,454
Gainesville & Hall Cnty., Dev. Auth. Edl. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Riverside Military Academy), 5.00%, 3/1/37 BB/F   2,385,000 2,441,981
Geo L Smith II GA Congress Ctr. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Signia Hotel Mgt., LLC.)        
5.00%, 1/1/54 BB−/P   2,470,000 2,985,750
5.00%, 1/1/36 BB−/P   1,430,000 1,770,723
Muni. Election Auth. of GA Rev. Bonds, (Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4), Ser. A        
5.50%, 7/1/60 A   3,500,000 4,088,442
5.00%, 1/1/56 A2   2,000,000 2,473,216
4.00%, 1/1/59 A2   3,000,000 3,411,089
19,934,469
Illinois (12.4%)
Chicago, G.O. Bonds        
Ser. A, 6.00%, 1/1/38 BBB+   7,040,000 8,826,870
Ser. A, 5.50%, 1/1/49 BBB+   2,000,000 2,527,043
Ser. D-05, 5.50%, 1/1/37 BBB+   3,250,000 3,725,073
Ser. G-07, 5.50%, 1/1/35 BBB+   1,200,000 1,376,428
Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/44 BBB+   2,000,000 2,471,839
Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/31 BBB+   1,400,000 1,807,245
Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/30 BBB+   2,600,000 3,387,389
Chicago, Special Assmt. Bonds, (Lake Shore East), 6.75%, 12/1/32 BB/P   4,804,000 4,816,578
Chicago, Board of Ed. G.O. Bonds        
Ser. C, 5.25%, 12/1/39 BB   4,000,000 4,501,584
Ser. H, 5.00%, 12/1/36 BB   4,600,000 5,617,615


32 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Illinois cont.
Chicago, Board of Ed. 144A G.O. Bonds, Ser. A, 7.00%, 12/1/46 BB   $1,500,000 $1,997,504
Chicago, Motor Fuel Tax Rev. Bonds        
AGM, 5.00%, 1/1/30 AA   200,000 215,378
5.00%, 1/1/28 BBB−   1,000,000 1,058,898
Cook Cnty., G.O. Bonds, 5.00%, 11/15/34 A+   1,000,000 1,203,380
Du Page Cnty., Special Svc. Area No. 31 Special Tax Bonds, (Monarch Landing), 5.625%, 3/1/36 B/P   749,000 750,058
IL State G.O. Bonds        
Ser. A, 5.25%, 12/1/30 Baa2   5,000,000 6,230,117
5.25%, 2/1/30 Baa2   3,000,000 3,352,016
5.00%, 11/1/41 Baa2   1,900,000 2,219,208
5.00%, 1/1/41 Baa2   1,000,000 1,145,022
5.00%, 2/1/39 Baa2   500,000 551,238
5.00%, 1/1/35 Baa2   2,500,000 2,884,910
Ser. A, 5.00%, 10/1/33 Baa2   1,025,000 1,276,930
5.00%, 1/1/33 Baa2   1,000,000 1,156,181
Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/31 Baa2   7,200,000 8,827,540
Ser. C, 5.00%, 11/1/29 Baa2   2,000,000 2,459,937
Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/28 Baa2   2,700,000 3,347,973
Ser. D, 5.00%, 11/1/28 Baa2   3,230,000 3,997,818
Ser. D, 5.00%, 11/1/27 Baa2   1,425,000 1,771,526
Ser. A, 5.00%, 10/1/27 Baa2   2,000,000 2,481,297
IL State Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(Plymouth Place), 5.25%, 5/15/50 (Prerefunded 5/15/25) BB+/F   850,000 1,003,228
(Rosalind Franklin U. of Medicine & Science), Ser. A, 5.00%, 8/1/47 BBB+   850,000 1,001,820
(Rosalind Franklin U. of Medicine & Science), Ser. A, 5.00%, 8/1/42 BBB+   500,000 592,833
(Rosalind Franklin U. of Medicine and Science), Ser. A, 5.00%, 8/1/34 BBB+   650,000 782,108
(Rosalind Franklin U. of Medicine and Science), Ser. A, 5.00%, 8/1/33 BBB+   500,000 603,294
(Southern IL Healthcare Enterprises, Inc.), 5.00%, 3/1/33 A+   200,000 240,438
IL State Fin. Auth. Student Hsg. & Academic Fac. Rev. Bonds, (U. of IL Chicago), 5.00%, 2/15/50 Baa3   4,000,000 4,644,256
Metro. Pier & Exposition Auth. Rev. Bonds, (McCormick Place Expansion)        
Ser. A, 5.00%, 6/15/50 BBB+   7,000,000 8,756,960
Ser. B, stepped-coupon zero % (4.850%, 6/15/31), 12/15/42 †† BBB+   3,000,000 2,751,681
Northern IL U. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B, BAM        
5.00%, 4/1/34 AA   650,000 832,670
5.00%, 4/1/30 AA   450,000 585,706
5.00%, 4/1/29 AA   400,000 511,672
4.00%, 4/1/41 AA   625,000 733,038
4.00%, 4/1/38 AA   600,000 707,365
4.00%, 4/1/37 AA   600,000 709,491


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 33


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Illinois cont.
Northern IL U. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B, BAM        
4.00%, 4/1/36 AA   $600,000 $711,489
4.00%, 4/1/35 AA   525,000 624,549
111,777,193
Indiana (0.1%)
IN State Fin Auth. Rev. Bonds, (United States
Steel Corp.), Ser. A, 4.125%, 12/1/26		 B3   1,000,000 1,094,672
1,094,672
Iowa (0.2%)
IA Tobacco Settlement Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B-1, Class 2, 4.00%, 6/1/49 BBB   1,750,000 2,067,630
2,067,630
Kansas (0.3%)
Wichita, Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds,
(Presbyterian Manors), Ser. I, 5.00%, 5/15/38		 BB−/P   1,000,000 1,093,994
Wyandotte, Cnty./Kansas City, Unified Govt. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Legends Apt. Garage & West Lawn), 4.50%, 6/1/40 BB+/P   1,315,000 1,390,148
2,484,142
Kentucky (0.7%)
KY Econ. Dev. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Masonic Home Indpt. Living), 5.00%, 5/15/36 BB/P   2,000,000 2,090,600
KY Pub. Trans. Infrastructure Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(1st Tier Downtown Crossing), Ser. A, 6.00%, 7/1/53		 Baa2   2,000,000 2,210,166
KY State Econ. Dev. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Owensboro Hlth.), Ser. A, 5.25%, 6/1/41 Baa3   375,000 448,965
KY State Econ. Dev. Fin. Auth. Hlth. Care Rev. Bonds, (Masonic Homes of KY), 5.375%, 11/15/42 BB−/P   1,400,000 1,421,651
6,171,382
Louisiana (0.6%)
LA State Pub. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (LA State U. Greenhouse Phase III), Ser. A        
4.00%, 7/1/54 A3   2,640,000 3,053,799
4.00%, 7/1/49 A3   1,000,000 1,160,732
LA State Pub. Fac. Solid Waste Disp. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (LA Pellets, Inc.), Ser. A, 8.375%, 7/1/39 (In default) † D/P   1,000,000 10
St. Tammany, Public Trust Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Christwood), 5.25%, 11/15/37 BB/P   765,000 837,218
5,051,759
Maine (0.1%)
ME State Fin. Auth. Solid Waste Disp. 144A Mandatory Put Bonds (8/1/25), (Casella Waste Syst.), 5.125%, 8/1/35 B2   1,000,000 1,156,873
1,156,873
Maryland (1.8%)
Brunswick, Special Tax, 5.00%, 7/1/36 B+/P   999,000 1,200,578
Frederick Cnty., Edl. Fac. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Mount St. Mary’s U.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 9/1/37 BB+   500,000 569,765


34 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Maryland cont.
MD Econ. Dev. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Morgan State U.)        
5.00%, 7/1/56 BBB−   $1,000,000 $1,239,131
4.00%, 7/1/40 BBB−   1,000,000 1,169,603
MD Econ. Dev. Corp. Student Hsg. Rev. Bonds, (Bowie State U.), 4.00%, 7/1/50 BBB−   1,000,000 1,149,104
MD State Econ. Dev. Corp. Tax Alloc. Bonds,
(Port Covington), 4.00%, 9/1/50		 B+/P   2,170,000 2,510,145
MD State Hlth. & Higher Ed. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(Stevenson U.), 4.00%, 6/1/55 BBB−   1,000,000 1,172,125
(Frederick Hlth., Inc.), 4.00%, 7/1/45 Baa1   500,000 589,415
(Frederick Hlth., Inc.), 4.00%, 7/1/40 Baa1   300,000 358,207
Prince Georges Cnty., Special Oblig. 144A Tax Alloc. Bonds, (Westphalia Town Ctr.)        
5.25%, 7/1/48 B/P   2,000,000 2,264,669
5.125%, 7/1/39 B/P   300,000 340,117
Westminster, Rev. Bonds        
(Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant, Inc. (The)), Ser. A, 6.00%, 7/1/34 B−/P   750,000 835,090
(Carroll Lutheran Village, Inc.), 5.125%, 7/1/34 BB/P   3,000,000 3,243,425
16,641,374
Massachusetts (1.8%)
Lowell, Collegiate Charter School Rev. Bonds, 5.00%, 6/15/49 BB−/P   2,290,000 2,534,129
MA State Dev. Fin. Agcy. Rev. Bonds        
(Loomis Communities), Ser. A, 6.00%, 1/1/33 BBB/P   250,000 270,767
(Loomis Communities), Ser. A, U.S. Govt. Coll., 6.00%, 1/1/33 (Prerefunded 7/1/23) AAA/P   250,000 277,542
(Milford Regl. Med. Ctr. Oblig. Group), Ser. F, 5.75%, 7/15/43 BB+   1,000,000 1,070,945
(Atrius Hlth. Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 4.00%, 6/1/49 BBB   5,000,000 5,711,585
(Linden Ponds, Inc.), Ser. B, zero %, 11/15/56 B−/P   722,603 502,438
MA State Dev. Fin. Agcy. 144A Rev. Bonds,
(Linden Ponds, Inc. Fac.), 5.125%, 11/15/46		 BB/F   2,000,000 2,243,990
MA State Dev. Fin. Agcy. VRDN (Boston U.), Ser. U-6C, 0.03%, 10/1/42 VMIG 1   2,500,000 2,500,000
MA State Dev. Fin. Agcy. Hlth. Care Fac. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Adventcare), Ser. A, 6.65%, 10/15/28 (In default) † D/P   2,035,000 915,750
16,027,146
Michigan (3.9%)
Detroit, G.O. Bonds        
5.00%, 4/1/37 Ba3   350,000 415,825
5.00%, 4/1/36 Ba3   1,400,000 1,666,928
Flint, Hosp. Bldg. Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.25%, 7/1/39 Ba1   500,000 528,334
MI State Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(Local Govt. Loan Program), Ser. F1, 4.50%, 10/1/29 BB+   650,000 699,872
(Tobacco Settlement), Ser. B-2, Class 2, zero %, 6/1/65 BBB/P   11,250,000 1,533,789
(Trinity Health Corp. Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 4.00%, 12/1/49 T AA−   3,875,000 4,581,305


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 35


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Michigan cont.
MI State Fin. Auth. Ltd. Oblig. Higher Ed. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Aquinas College), 5.00%, 5/1/46 BB/P   $2,000,000 $2,206,415
MI State Fin. Auth. Ltd. Oblig. Rev. Bonds,
(Lawrence Technological U.)		        
5.25%, 2/1/32 BB+   1,000,000 1,155,341
5.00%, 2/1/47 BB+   3,100,000 3,456,762
5.00%, 2/1/37 BB+   1,080,000 1,221,955
MI State Hosp. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Trinity Health Corp. Oblig. Group), Ser. A, U.S. Govt. Coll, 5.00%, 12/1/47 (Prerefunded 12/1/22) T		 Aa3   11,000,000 11,717,532
MI State Strategic Fund Ltd. Oblig. Rev. Bonds, (Holland Home Oblig. Group)        
5.00%, 11/15/43 BBB−/F   500,000 583,366
5.00%, 11/15/34 BBB−/F   1,000,000 1,181,692
Pontiac City, G.O. Bonds, (Pontiac School Dist.), Q-SBLF        
4.00%, 5/1/37 Aa1   1,870,000 2,275,225
4.00%, 5/1/36 Aa1   1,695,000 2,066,619
35,290,960
Minnesota (1.0%)
Baytown Twp., Lease Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, 4.00%, 8/1/36 BB+   400,000 432,697
Duluth, COP, (Indpt. School Dist. No. 709), Ser. A        
4.20%, 3/1/34 Ba2   725,000 780,949
4.00%, 3/1/28 Ba2   760,000 833,941
4.00%, 3/1/27 Ba2   730,000 805,874
Forest Lake, Charter School Lease Rev. Bonds,
(LILA Bldg. Co.), Ser. A, 5.25%, 8/1/43		 BB+   615,000 712,847
Ham Lake, Charter School Lease Rev. Bonds        
(DaVinci Academy of Arts & Science), Ser. A, 5.00%, 7/1/47 BB−/P   1,000,000 1,085,693
(Parnassus Preparatory School), Ser. A, 5.00%, 11/1/36 BB   1,500,000 1,700,548
MN State Higher Ed. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Augsburg U.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 5/1/46 Ba1   1,750,000 1,887,554
St. Paul, Hsg. & Redev. Auth. Charter School Lease Rev. Bonds, (Nova Classical Academy), Ser. A, 6.375%, 9/1/31 BB+   500,000 502,050
8,742,153
Missouri (1.6%)
Kansas City, Indl. Dev. Auth. Arpt. Special Oblig. Rev. Bonds, AGM, 4.00%, 3/1/57 AA   4,000,000 4,622,057
Plaza at Noah’s Ark Cmnty. Impt. Dist. Rev. Bonds        
3.125%, 5/1/35 B+/P   500,000 508,609
3.00%, 5/1/30 B+/P   725,000 744,177
Saint Louis, Indl. Dev. Auth. Fin. Rev. Bonds, (Ballpark Village Dev.), Ser. A, 4.75%, 11/15/47 BB−/P   1,625,000 1,675,106
St. Louis Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Sr. Living Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Friendship Village)        
5.25%, 9/1/53 BB+/F   4,250,000 4,844,219
5.00%, 9/1/48 BB+/F   1,750,000 2,001,601
14,395,769


36 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Nevada (0.7%)
Clark Cnty., Impt. Dist. No. 159 Special Assessment Bonds, (Summerlin Village 16A), 5.00%, 8/1/35 B+/P   $625,000 $685,079
Las Vegas, Special Assmt. Bonds        
5.00%, 6/1/30 B+/P   1,010,000 1,100,446
(Dist. No. 607 Local Impt.), 5.00%, 6/1/22 BBB−/P   290,000 299,559
Las Vegas, Impt. Dist. No. 812 Special Assessment Bonds, (Summerlin Village 24), 5.00%, 12/1/35 B/P   715,000 792,202
North Las Vegas, G.O. Bonds, AGM, 4.00%, 6/1/34 AA   1,075,000 1,273,993
North Las Vegas, Local Impt. Special Assmt. Bonds, (Valley Vista Special Impt. Dist. No. 64), 4.50%, 6/1/39 B/P   685,000 781,785
NV State Dept. of Bus. & Indl. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Somerset Academy of Las Vegas), Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/15/38 BB   1,000,000 1,122,150
6,055,214
New Hampshire (1.0%)
National Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Caritas Acquisitions VII, LLC), Ser. A		        
4.50%, 8/15/55 BBB/P   3,495,000 3,758,879
4.25%, 8/15/46 BBB/P   1,650,000 1,763,201
4.125%, 8/15/40 BBB/P   1,475,000 1,580,722
NH State Hlth. & Ed. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Kendel at Hanover), 5.00%, 10/1/46		 BBB+/F   625,000 724,809
NH State Hlth. & Ed. Fac. Auth. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Hillside Village), Ser. A        
6.25%, 7/1/42 (In default) † D/P   250,000 185,000
6.125%, 7/1/37 (In default) † D/P   1,000,000 740,000
8,752,611
New Jersey (6.4%)
NJ State Econ. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(Paterson Charter School Science & Tech.), Ser. A, 6.10%, 7/1/44 BB   655,000 681,360
(Paterson Charter School Science & Tech.), Ser. A, 6.00%, 7/1/32 BB   300,000 313,258
(Continental Airlines, Inc.), 5.50%, 6/1/33 Ba3   2,000,000 2,183,304
(Paterson Charter School), Ser. C, 5.30%, 7/1/44 BB   2,250,000 2,320,187
Ser. EEE, 5.00%, 6/15/48 Baa1   4,000,000 4,952,570
(North Star Academy Charter School of
Newark, Inc.), 5.00%, 7/15/47		 BBB−   500,000 584,987
Ser. EEE, 5.00%, 6/15/43 Baa1   3,910,000 4,868,188
Ser. DDD, 5.00%, 6/15/42 Baa1   1,500,000 1,803,591
Ser. EEE, 5.00%, 6/15/38 Baa1   2,500,000 3,133,617
(Provident Group-Montclair State U. Student Hsg. & Properties), 5.00%, 6/1/37 AA   1,000,000 1,208,703
(North Star Academy Charter School of Newark, Inc.), 5.00%, 7/15/32 BBB−   1,000,000 1,197,887
(NJ Transit Trans.), Ser. A, 4.00%, 11/1/39 Baa1   2,000,000 2,355,563
(NJ Transit Trans.), Ser. A, 4.00%, 11/1/38 Baa1   3,000,000 3,540,763


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 37


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
New Jersey cont.
NJ State Econ. Dev. Auth. Energy Fac. Rev. Bonds, (UMM Energy Partners, LLC), Ser. A        
5.00%, 6/15/37 Baa2   $1,000,000 $1,031,568
4.75%, 6/15/32 Baa2   170,000 175,236
NJ State Econ. Dev. Auth. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Continental Airlines, Inc.), 5.625%, 11/15/30 Ba3   1,000,000 1,122,025
NJ State Hlth. Care Fac. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(St. Peter’s U. Hosp.), 6.25%, 7/1/35		 Ba1   2,500,000 2,507,920
NJ State Trans. Trust Fund Auth. Rev. Bonds        
Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/15/34 Baa1   5,600,000 7,066,601
Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/15/33 Baa1   6,550,000 8,273,533
Ser. AA, 5.00%, 6/15/38 ### Baa1   1,600,000 2,021,008
Ser. AA, 5.00%, 6/15/36 ### Baa1   645,000 821,789
Ser. A, 4.00%, 6/15/40 ### BBB   3,000,000 3,467,365
Ser. A, 4.00%, 6/15/38 ### BBB   2,000,000 2,326,755
57,957,778
New Mexico (0.2%)
Sante Fe, Retirement Fac. Rev. Bonds, (El Castillo Retirement Residences), Ser. A, 5.00%, 5/15/49 BB+/F   1,200,000 1,364,621
1,364,621
New York (3.7%)
Glen Cove, Local Econ. Assistance Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Garvies Point Pub. Impt.), Ser. C, stepped-coupon zero % (5.625%, 1/1/24), 1/1/55 †† B/P   600,000 646,764
Metro. Trans. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Green Bond), Ser. C-1, 5.00%, 11/15/50 A3   1,500,000 1,879,096
NY City, Transitional Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B-1, 4.00%, 11/1/41 T Aa2   10,000,000 12,900,656
NY Counties, Tobacco Trust VI Rev. Bonds, (Tobacco Settlement Pass Through), Ser. A-2B, 5.00%, 6/1/51 BB+/P   2,500,000 2,692,755
NY State Dorm. Auth. Non-State Supported Debt 144A Rev. Bonds, (Orange Regl. Med. Ctr.), 5.00%, 12/1/35 Baa3   1,300,000 1,578,764
NY State Env. Fac. Corp. Solid Waste Disp. Mandatory Put Bonds (9/2/25), (Casella Waste
Syst. Inc.), Ser. R-1, 2.75%, 9/1/50		 B   475,000 504,357
NY State Liberty Dev. Corp. 144A Rev. Bonds        
(World Trade Ctr.), Class 2, 5.375%, 11/15/40 BB−/P   1,250,000 1,413,180
(3 World Trade Ctr., LLC), Class 1-3, 5.00%, 11/15/44 BB−/P   6,750,000 7,492,515
NY State Trans. Special Fac. Dev. Corp. Rev. Bonds        
(Delta Air Lines, Inc.), 5.00%, 10/1/40 Baa3   2,000,000 2,575,908
(American Airlines, Inc.), 3.00%, 8/1/31 B/F   1,150,000 1,248,254
32,932,249
North Carolina (1.6%)
NC State Med. Care Comm. Hlth. Care Fac.
Rev. Bonds, (Lutheran Svcs. for the Aging, Inc.
Oblig. Group), Ser. C		        
4.00%, 3/1/42 ### BB/P   2,500,000 2,712,597
4.00%, 3/1/31 ### BB/P   825,000 919,889
4.00%, 3/1/30 ### BB/P   790,000 886,279


38 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
North Carolina cont.
NC State Med. Care Comm. Hlth. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Presbyterian Homes Oblig. Group), 4.00%, 10/1/50 BBB+/F   $1,350,000 $1,559,573
NC State Med. Care Comm. Retirement Fac. Rev. Bonds        
(Maryfield, Inc. Oblig. Group), 5.00%, 10/1/50 BB/P   1,500,000 1,706,842
(Twin Lakes Cmnty.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/49 BBB/F   2,970,000 3,434,216
(Southminister, Inc.), 5.00%, 10/1/37 BB/P   1,625,000 1,777,731
(United Church Homes & Svcs. Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 5.00%, 9/1/37 BB/P   1,000,000 1,089,414
14,086,541
Ohio (2.5%)
Buckeye, Tobacco Settlement Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, Ser. A-3, 6.25%, 6/1/37 (Prerefunded 6/1/22) AAA/P   7,300,000 7,673,261
Centerville, Hlth. Care Rev. Bonds,
(Graceworks Lutheran Svcs.), 5.25%, 11/1/47		 BB+/P   2,000,000 2,241,116
Cleveland-Cuyahoga Cnty., Port Auth. Cultural Fac. Rev. Bonds        
(Playhouse Square Foundation), 5.50%, 12/1/43 BB+   500,000 607,314
(Playhouse Sq. Foundation), 5.25%, 12/1/38 BB+   1,065,000 1,291,716
Franklin Cnty., Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Ohio Living)        
6.00%, 7/1/35 BBB/F   2,825,000 2,952,496
6.00%, 7/1/35 (Prerefunded 7/1/22) AAA/P   175,000 184,185
Hickory Chase, Cmnty. Auth. Infrastructure Impt. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Hickory Chase), Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/40 B+/P   1,485,000 1,638,408
Lake Cnty., Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Lake Hosp.
Syst., Inc.), Ser. C, 6.00%, 8/15/43		 Baa1   250,000 250,893
OH State Air Quality Dev. Auth. Exempt Fac. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Pratt Paper, LLC), 4.50%, 1/15/48 BB+/P   2,000,000 2,362,148
OH State Higher Edl. Fac. Comm. Rev. Bonds, 5.25%, 12/1/48 BB   750,000 860,769
Southeastern OH Port Auth. Hosp. Fac. Rev. Bonds        
5.75%, 12/1/32 BB−/F   2,225,000 2,335,336
(Memorial Hlth. Syst. Oblig. Group), 5.50%, 12/1/43 BB−/F   235,000 256,420
22,654,062
Oregon (0.3%)
Clackamas Cnty., Hosp. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Rose Villa, Inc.), Ser. A, 5.375%, 11/15/55		 BB/P   1,000,000 1,120,103
Warm Springs, Reservation Confederated Tribes 144A Rev. Bonds, (Pelton-Round Butte), Ser. B        
5.00%, 11/1/39 A3   700,000 856,446
5.00%, 11/1/32 A3   360,000 447,254
2,423,803
Pennsylvania (3.2%)
Chester Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(Collegium Charter School), Ser. A, 5.125%, 10/15/37 BB   1,200,000 1,382,168
(Renaissance Academy Charter School), 5.00%, 10/1/34 BBB−   625,000 675,125


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 39


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Pennsylvania cont.
Chester Cnty., Indl. Dev. Auth. Student Hsg. Rev. Bonds, (West Chester U. Student Hsg., LLC), Ser. A, 5.00%, 8/1/45 Ba2   $2,200,000 $2,311,172
Cumberland Cnty., Muni. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Asbury PA Obligated Group), 5.00%, 1/1/45		 BB+/P   1,000,000 1,108,502
Dallas, Area Muni. Auth. U. Rev. Bonds,
(Misericordia U.), 5.00%, 5/1/48		 Baa3   3,000,000 3,521,128
East Hempfield Twp., Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Millersville U. Student Hsg. & Svcs., Inc.), 5.00%, 7/1/34 (Prerefunded 7/1/24) Ba1   1,600,000 1,820,802
Lancaster Cnty., Hosp. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Brethren Village), 5.125%, 7/1/37		 BB+/F   700,000 810,793
Lancaster Cnty., Hosp. Auth. Hlth. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Moravian Manors, Inc.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 6/15/49 BB+/F   4,705,000 5,358,752
Lancaster, Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds,
(Willow Valley Communities)		        
5.00%, 12/1/49 A/F   2,300,000 2,674,757
5.00%, 12/1/44 A/F   1,850,000 2,160,582
4.00%, 12/1/44 A/F   1,150,000 1,295,211
Montgomery Cnty., Indl. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Whitemarsh Continuing Care Retirement Cmnty.), Ser. A, 5.25%, 1/1/48 BB−/P   1,500,000 1,643,948
Moon, Indl. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Baptist Homes Society Oblig. Group), 5.75%, 7/1/35 B+/P   850,000 921,575
Northeastern PA Hosp. & Ed. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Wilkes U.), Ser. A, 5.25%, 3/1/42 BBB−   1,000,000 1,022,439
PA State Higher Edl. Fac. Auth. Student Hsg. Rev. Bonds, (U. Properties, Inc.-East Stroudsburg), Ser. A, 5.00%, 7/1/31 Baa3   1,000,000 1,139,647
Philadelphia Auth. For Ind. Dev. 144A Rev. Bonds, (String Theory Charter School), 5.00%, 6/15/50 BB+   1,000,000 1,175,547
29,022,148
Puerto Rico (1.5%)
Cmnwlth. of PR, Sales Tax Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds        
Ser. A-1, 5.00%, 7/1/58 BB−/P   8,997,000 10,513,264
Ser. A-2, 4.784%, 7/1/58 B/P   240,000 277,158
Ser. A-1, 4.75%, 7/1/53 B/P   433,000 497,912
Ser. A-1, 4.55%, 7/1/40 B/P   59,000 68,031
Ser. A-2, 4.536%, 7/1/53 B/P   17,000 19,318
Ser. A-1, 4.50%, 7/1/34 B/P   116,000 128,801
Ser. A-2, 4.329%, 7/1/40 B/P   600,000 683,375
Ser. A-1, zero %, 7/1/51 B/P   1,236,000 300,869
Ser. A-1, zero %, 7/1/46 B/P   1,518,000 510,743
Ser. A-1, zero %, 7/1/33 B/P   159,000 119,572
Ser. A-1, zero %, 7/1/31 B/P   141,000 114,066
Ser. A-1, zero %, 7/1/29 B/P   109,000 95,338
Ser. A-1, zero %, 7/1/27 B/P   112,000 102,832
Ser. A-1, zero %, 7/1/24 B/P   59,000 56,882
13,488,161


40 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Rhode Island (0.4%)
Tobacco Settlement Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B, 5.00%, 6/1/50 BBB−/P   $3,000,000 $3,354,191
3,354,191
South Carolina (2.4%)
Berkeley Cnty., Assmt. Rev. Bonds,
(Nexton Impt. Dist.), 4.25%, 11/1/40		 BB−/P   1,000,000 1,142,394
SC State Jobs Econ. Dev. Auth. Edl. Fac. 144A Rev. Bonds        
(High Point Academy), Ser. A, 5.75%, 6/15/39 Ba1   2,000,000 2,356,380
(Greenville Renewable Energy Ed.
Charter School), 4.00%, 6/1/56		 BB/P   1,530,000 1,622,496
(Greenville Renewable Energy Ed.
Charter School), 4.00%, 6/1/36		 BB/P   1,000,000 1,097,210
SC State Jobs-Econ. Dev. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Woodlands at Furman), Ser. A        
5.00%, 11/15/54 BB/P   1,000,000 1,135,493
5.00%, 11/15/42 BB/P   585,000 670,822
SC State Pub. Svcs. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
Ser. A, 5.50%, 12/1/54 A2   6,220,000 7,041,989
Ser. E, 5.25%, 12/1/55 A2   2,500,000 2,956,293
Ser. E, 5.00%, 12/1/48 A2   2,000,000 2,209,020
Ser. C, 5.00%, 12/1/46 A2   1,000,000 1,140,875
(Oblig.), Ser. B, 5.00%, 12/1/37 A2   500,000 606,905
21,979,877
Tennessee (1.4%)
Chattanooga, Hlth. Edl. & Hsg. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (CommonSpirit Health Oblig. Group)        
Ser. A-2, 5.00%, 8/1/49 T Baa1   725,000 902,135
Ser. A-2, 5.00%, 8/1/44 T Baa1   425,000 525,326
Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/44 T Baa1   850,000 1,004,616
Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/38 T Baa1   425,000 505,133
Ser. A-1, 4.00%, 8/1/37 T Baa1   425,000 506,974
Metro. Govt. Nashville & Davidson Cnty., Hlth. & Edl. Fac. Board Rev. Bonds        
(Trevecca Nazarene U.), 5.00%, 10/1/48 BBB−/F   1,800,000 2,226,157
(Trevecca Nazarene U.), 5.00%, 10/1/39 BBB−/F   800,000 1,004,212
(Trevecca Nazarene U.), 5.00%, 10/1/34 BBB−/F   400,000 507,452
(Trevecca Nazarene U.), 5.00%, 10/1/29 BBB−/F   600,000 738,149
(Blakeford at Green Hills Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 4.00%, 11/1/45 BBB−/F   3,000,000 3,267,154
Nashville, Metro. Dev. & Hsg. Agcy. 144A Tax Alloc. Bonds, (Fifth & Broadway Dev. Dist.), 5.125%, 6/1/36 B+/P   1,250,000 1,452,188
12,639,496
Texas (6.2%)
Arlington, Higher Ed. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds        
(Uplift Ed.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 12/1/36 BBB−   815,000 963,499
(Wayside Schools), Ser. A, 4.00%, 8/15/46 BB   850,000 934,979
(Wayside Schools), Ser. A, 4.00%, 8/15/36 BB   335,000 373,584


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 41


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Texas cont.
Clifton, Higher Ed. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds        
(Intl. Leadership), Ser. D, 6.125%, 8/15/48 BB−/P   $6,000,000 $7,023,016
(Idea Pub. Schools), 5.00%, 8/15/32 A−   2,100,000 2,183,173
Harris Cnty., Cultural Ed. Fac. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Brazos Presbyterian Homes, Inc.), 5.00%, 1/1/37 BBB−/F   1,000,000 1,124,087
Houston, Arpt. Syst. Rev. Bonds, Ser. B-1, 5.00%, 7/15/35 B   200,000 223,015
Houston, Higher Ed. Fin. Co. Rev. Bonds,
(Cosmos Foundation), Ser. A		        
5.00%, 2/15/42 BBB   2,250,000 2,292,315
5.00%, 2/15/32 BBB   2,250,000 2,297,219
Houston, Higher Ed. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds,
(Houston Baptist U.), 4.00%, 10/1/51		 BBB−   1,100,000 1,236,146
Matagorda Cnty., Poll. Control Rev. Bonds,
(Dist. No. 1), Ser. A, AMBAC, 4.40%, 5/1/30		 A−   3,000,000 3,692,551
New Hope Cultural Ed. Fac. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Westminster Manor), 4.00%, 11/1/49 BBB/F   1,450,000 1,660,606
New Hope, Cultural Ed. Fac. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds        
(MRC Sr. Living-Langford (The)), Ser. A, 5.50%, 11/15/52 B−/P   250,000 270,280
(MRC Senior Living-Langford (The)), 5.50%, 11/15/46 B−/P   700,000 758,875
(Wesleyan Homes, Inc.), 5.50%, 1/1/43 BB−/P   1,050,000 1,108,286
(MRC Senior Living-Langford (The)), 5.375%, 11/15/36 B−/P   500,000 545,340
(CHF-Collegiate Hsg. Stephenville III, LLC), 5.00%, 4/1/47 (Prerefunded 4/1/25) AAA/P   2,450,000 2,870,906
(Collegiate Student Hsg. Island Campus, LLC), Ser. A, 5.00%, 4/1/42 (Prerefunded 4/1/27) AAA/P   3,500,000 4,349,265
(Collegiate Hsg.-Tarleton St.), 5.00%, 4/1/39 (Prerefunded 4/1/24) AAA/P   500,000 559,119
(Woman’s U.-Collegiate Hsg. Denton, LLC), Ser. A-1, AGM, 5.00%, 7/1/32 AA   700,000 863,567
(Woman’s U.-Collegiate Hsg. Denton, LLC), Ser. A-1, AGM, 4.00%, 7/1/43 AA   1,600,000 1,820,521
Newark, Higher Ed. Fin. Corp. Rev. Bonds,
(Austin Achieve Pub. Schools, Inc.)		        
5.00%, 6/15/48 BB−/P   750,000 769,481
5.00%, 6/15/38 BB−/P   245,000 251,986
Tarrant Cnty., Cultural Ed. Fac. Fin. Corp. Retirement Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Buckner Retirement Svcs., Inc.), 5.00%, 11/15/37 A/F   1,620,000 1,963,866
Temple, Tax Increment 144A Tax Alloc. Bonds, (Reinvestment Zone No. 1), Ser. A, 5.00%, 8/1/38 Baa2   3,500,000 3,870,963
TX Private Activity Surface Trans. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Segment 3C), 5.00%, 6/30/58 Baa3   4,500,000 5,596,213
TX State Private Activity Bond Surface Trans. Corp. Rev. Bonds, (Blueridge Trans. Group, LLC (SH 288 Toll Lane)), 5.00%, 12/31/50 Baa3   1,750,000 1,980,303
TX State Trans. Comm. Rev. Bonds, (State Hwy. 249 Sys.), Ser. A, zero %, 8/1/39 Baa3   1,500,000 780,115


42 Tax-Free High Yield Fund


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Texas cont.
Uptown Dev. Auth. Tax Alloc. Bonds,
(City of Houston Reinvestment Zone No. 16)		        
3.00%, 9/1/40 ## Baa2   $605,000 $647,264
3.00%, 9/1/39 ## Baa2   550,000 590,224
3.00%, 9/1/38 ## Baa2   750,000 806,363
3.00%, 9/1/37 ## Baa2   650,000 700,689
3.00%, 9/1/36 ## Baa2   650,000 703,603
55,811,419
Utah (1.2%)
Infrastructure Agcy. Telecomm. Rev. Bonds        
4.00%, 10/15/42 BBB−/F   1,500,000 1,729,944
4.00%, 10/15/36 BBB−/F   1,000,000 1,169,075
MDA Mountain Village Pub. Infrastructure Dist. Special Assmt., Ser. A, 5.00%, 8/1/50 B/P   2,000,000 2,305,323
Mida Mountain Village Pub. Infrastructure Dist. 144A Special Assmt. Bonds, (Mountain Village Assmt. Area No. 2), 4.00%, 8/1/50 B/P   1,625,000 1,727,533
Murray City, Hosp. VRDN, (IHC Hlth. Svcs., Inc.), Ser. A, 0.03%, 5/15/37 VMIG 1   4,300,000 4,300,000
11,231,875
Virginia (1.4%)
Cherry Hill Cmnty., Dev. Auth. 144A Special Assmt. Bonds, (Potomac Shores), 5.15%, 3/1/35 B/P   500,000 533,573
Fairfax Cnty., Econ. Dev. Auth. Res. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Goodwin House, Inc.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 10/1/42 BBB+/F   350,000 394,585
Farms of New Kent, Cmnty. Dev. Auth. 144A Special Assmt. Bonds, Ser. A, 3.75%, 3/1/36 B+/P   1,700,000 1,855,737
Lexington, Indl. Dev. Auth. Res. Care Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Kendal at Lexington), Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/42 BBB−/F   690,000 738,876
Lower Magnolia Green Cmnty., Dev. Auth. 144A Special Assmt. Bonds, 5.00%, 3/1/35 B/P   835,000 885,408
Suffolk, Econ. Dev. Auth. Retirement Fac. Rev. Bonds, (United Church Homes & Svcs. Oblig. Group), 5.00%, 9/1/31 BB/P   1,500,000 1,672,421
VA State Small Bus. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(Elizabeth River Crossings OPCO, LLC), 6.00%, 1/1/37 BBB−   1,725,000 1,814,227
(National Sr. Campuses, Inc. Oblig. Group), 4.00%, 1/1/38 A/F   2,000,000 2,301,724
(National Sr. Campuses, Inc. Oblig. Group), 4.00%, 1/1/37 A/F   2,250,000 2,614,446
12,810,997
Washington (2.5%)
Kalispel Tribe of Indians Priority Dist. Rev. Bonds, Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/32 BB+/P   1,000,000 1,204,781
Port Seattle, Port Indl. Dev. Corp. Rev. Bonds,
(Delta Airlines, Inc.), 5.00%, 4/1/30		 BB   5,700,000 6,106,464
Skagit Cnty., Pub. Hosp. Dist. No. 1 Rev. Bonds, (Skagit Regl. Hlth. Impt.), 5.00%, 12/1/37 Baa2   2,000,000 2,360,174
WA State Hsg. Fin. Comm. Rev. Bonds        
(Wesley Homes Lea Hill), 5.00%, 7/1/36 B/P   575,000 635,990
(Social Certif.), Ser. A-1, 3.50%, 12/20/35 BBB+   3,751,391 4,432,112


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 43


MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Washington cont.
WA State Hsg. Fin. Comm. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Presbyterian Retirement Cmnty. Northwest), Ser. A, 5.00%, 1/1/46 BB/F   $4,000,000 $4,399,826
WA State Hsg. Fin. Comm. Nonprofit 144A Rev. Bonds, (Spokane Intl. Academy), Ser. A        
5.00%, 7/1/50 Ba2   500,000 574,078
4.00%, 7/1/40 Ba2   2,235,000 2,429,343
22,142,768
Wisconsin (4.1%)
Pub. Fin. Auth. Rev. Bonds, (Northwest Nazarene U.), 5.00%, 10/1/43 Baa3   3,425,000 4,017,277
Pub. Fin. Auth. 144A Rev. Bonds        
(WFCS Holdings II, LLC), Ser. A-1, 5.00%, 1/1/56 BB/P   2,145,000 2,546,656
(Roseman U. of Hlth. Sciences), 5.00%, 4/1/50 BB   1,800,000 2,162,406
Pub. Fin. Auth. Arpt. Fac. Rev. Bonds        
(Sr. Oblig. Group), 5.25%, 7/1/28 BBB+   800,000 830,654
(Trans. Infrastructure Properties), 5.00%, 7/1/42 BBB+   3,500,000 3,620,241
Pub. Fin. Auth. Ed. 144A Rev. Bonds, (North Carolina Leadership Academy)        
5.00%, 6/15/54 BB+/P   455,000 497,414
5.00%, 6/15/49 BB+/P   1,040,000 1,139,418
5.00%, 6/15/39 BB+/P   410,000 454,301
Pub. Fin. Auth. Edl. Fac. Rev. Bonds,
(Piedmont Cmnty. Charter School),
5.00%, 6/15/53		 Baa3   1,000,000 1,166,900
Pub. Fin. Auth. Exempt Fac. Rev. Bonds,
(Celanese U.S. Holdings, LLC), Ser. C,
4.30%, 11/1/30		 BBB   700,000 792,856
Pub. Fin. Auth. Higher Ed. Fac. Rev. Bonds, (Gannon U.)        
5.00%, 5/1/47 BBB+   850,000 988,238
5.00%, 5/1/42 BBB+   1,600,000 1,869,023
Pub. Fin. Auth. Retirement Communities Rev. Bonds, (Evergreens Oblig. Group), Ser. A, 5.00%, 11/15/49 BBB/F   2,000,000 2,355,583
Pub. Fin. Auth. Retirement Fac. 144A Rev. Bonds, (Southminster, Inc.), 5.00%, 10/1/48 BB/F   1,500,000 1,670,060
Pub. Fin. Auth. Student Hsg. Fac. Rev. Bonds        
(NC A&T Real Estate Foundation, LLC), Ser. B, 5.00%, 6/1/44 BBB−   1,900,000 2,286,638
(Appalachian State U.), Ser. A, AGM, 4.00%, 7/1/59 AA   1,350,000 1,528,441
(Appalachian State U.), Ser. A, AGM, 4.00%, 7/1/55 AA   1,000,000 1,132,870
WI State Hlth. & Edl. Fac. Auth. Rev. Bonds        
(St. John’s Cmnty., Inc.), Ser. B, 5.00%, 9/15/45 BBB−/F   750,000 779,289
(Thedacare, Inc.), 4.00%, 12/15/49 A1   1,395,000 1,642,489
WI State Pub. Fin. Auth Sr. Living Rev. Bonds,
(Rose Villa, Inc.), Ser. A		        
6.00%, 11/15/49 BB−/P   1,000,000 1,100,657
5.50%, 11/15/34 BB−/P   1,685,000 1,847,791


44 Tax-Free High Yield Fund



MUNICIPAL BONDS AND NOTES (97.3%)* cont. Rating** Principal amount Value
Wisconsin cont.
WI State Pub. Fin. Auth Sr. Living 144A Rev. Bonds, (Rose Villa, Inc.), Ser. A, 5.75%, 11/15/44 BB−/P   $500,000 $547,256
WI State Pub. Fin. Auth. 144A Rev. Bonds,
(Church Home of Hartford, Inc.), Ser. A, 5.00%, 9/1/38		 BB/F   1,500,000 1,628,968
36,605,426
Total municipal bonds and notes (cost $791,029,771) $875,735,049

UNITIZED TRUST (0.1%)* Shares Value
CMS Liquidating Trust 144A † F 400 $584,884
Total unitized trust (cost $1,206,476) $584,884

SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS (7.1%)* Principal amount/
shares		 Value
Putnam Short Term Investment Fund Class P 0.09% L Shares 62,721,578 $62,721,578
U.S. Treasury Bills 0.018%, 9/28/21 # $300,000 299,976
U.S. Treasury Bills 0.015%, 9/21/21 # § 100,000 99,993
U.S. Treasury Cash Management Bills 0.043%, 10/19/21 § 1,000,000 999,881
Total short-term investments (cost $64,121,475) $64,121,428

TOTAL INVESTMENTS
Total investments (cost $856,357,722) $940,441,361
Notes to the fund’s portfolio
Unless noted otherwise, the notes to the fund’s portfolio are for the close of the fund’s reporting period, which ran from August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021 (the reporting period). Within the following notes to the portfolio, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “ASC 820” represent Accounting Standards Codification 820 Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.
* Percentages indicated are based on net assets of $899,603,850.
** The Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s or Fitch ratings indicated are believed to be the most recent ratings available at the close of the reporting period for the securities listed. Ratings are generally ascribed to securities at the time of issuance. While the agencies may from time to time revise such ratings, they undertake no obligation to do so, and the ratings do not necessarily represent what the agencies would ascribe to these securities at the close of the reporting period. Securities rated by Fitch are indicated by “/F.” Securities rated by Putnam are indicated by “/P.” The Putnam rating categories are comparable to the Standard & Poor’s classifications. If a security is insured, it will usually be rated by the ratings organizations based on the financial strength of the insurer. Ratings are not covered by the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. For further details regarding security ratings, please see the Statement of Additional Information.
† This security is non-income-producing.
†† The interest rate and date shown parenthetically represent the new interest rate to be paid and the date the fund will begin accruing interest at this rate.
# This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the broker to cover margin requirements for futures contracts at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $315,968 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 8).
§ This security, in part or in entirety, was pledged and segregated with the custodian for collateral on the initial margin on certain centrally cleared derivative contracts at the close of the reporting period. Collateral at period end totaled $993,900 and is included in Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities (Notes 1 and 8).
## Forward commitment, in part or in entirety (Note 1).


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 45



F This security is valued by Putnam Management at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. Securities are classified as Level 3 for ASC 820 based on the securities’ valuation inputs (Note 1).
L Affiliated company (Note 5). The rate quoted in the security description is the annualized 7-day yield of the fund at the close of the reporting period.
T Underlying security in a tender option bond transaction. This security has been segregated as collateral for financing transactions.
### When-issued security.
At the close of the reporting period, the fund maintained liquid assets totaling $81,634,799 to cover tender option bonds and the settlement of certain securities.
Unless otherwise noted, the rates quoted in Short-term investments security descriptions represent the weighted average yield to maturity.
Debt obligations are considered secured unless otherwise indicated.
144A after the name of an issuer represents securities exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.
On Mandatory Put Bonds, the rates shown are the current interest rates at the close of the reporting period and the dates shown represent the next mandatory put dates. Rates are set by remarketing agents and may take into consideration market supply and demand, credit quality and the current SIFMA Municipal Swap Index, 1 Month US LIBOR or 3 Month US LIBOR rates, which were 0.02%, 0.09% and 0.12%, respectively, as of the close of the reporting period.
The dates shown parenthetically on prerefunded bonds represent the next prerefunding dates.
The dates shown on debt obligations are the original maturity dates.
The fund had the following sector concentrations greater than 10% at the close of the reporting period (as a percentage of net assets):
Health care 21.8%
Education 19.8
State debt 10.9

FUTURES CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/21
Number of
contracts		 Notional
amount		 Value Expiration
date		 Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
U.S. Treasury Note 5 yr (Short) 384 $47,787,000 $47,787,000 Sep-21 $(246,849)
Unrealized appreciation —
Unrealized (depreciation) (246,849)
Total $(246,849)
OTC TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/21
Swap counterparty/
Notional amount		 Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)		 Termination
date		 Payments
received (paid)
by fund		 Total return
received by
or paid by fund		 Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC
  $7,000,000 $107,513 $— 11/18/21 — 0.10% minus Municipal Market Data Index AAA municipal yields 10 Year rate — At maturity $107,513


46 Tax-Free High Yield Fund



OTC TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/21 cont.
Swap counterparty/
Notional amount		 Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)		 Termination
date		 Payments
received (paid)
by fund		 Total return
received by
or paid by fund		 Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
Morgan Stanley & Co. International PLC cont.
  $7,000,000 $100,513 $— 11/18/21 — 0.10% minus Municipal Market Data Index AAA municipal yields 10 Year rate — At maturity $100,513
  9,000,000 13,365 — 11/2/21 — 0.10% minus Municipal Market Data Index AAA municipal yields 10 Year rate — At maturity 13,365
  3,500,000 84,049 — 11/18/21 — 0.20% minus Municipal Market Data Index AAA municipal yields 30 Year rate — At maturity (84,049)
  3,500,000 84,049 — 11/18/21 — 0.20% minus Municipal Market Data Index AAA municipal yields 30 Year rate — At maturity (84,049)
Upfront premium received — Unrealized appreciation 221,391
Upfront premium (paid) — Unrealized (depreciation) (168,098)
Total $— Total $53,293

CENTRALLY CLEARED TOTAL RETURN SWAP CONTRACTS OUTSTANDING at 7/31/21
Notional amount Value Upfront
premium
received
(paid)		 Termination
date		 Payments
received (paid)
by fund		 Total return
received by
or paid by fund		 Unrealized
appreciation/
(depreciation)
  $39,414,000 $1,236,811 $(398) 3/29/26 2.51% — At maturity USA Non-revised Consumer Price Index-Urban (CPI-U) — At maturity $(1,237,209)
Total $(398) $(1,237,209)


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 47


ASC 820 establishes a three-level hierarchy for disclosure of fair value measurements. The valuation hierarchy is based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of the fund’s investments. The three levels are defined as follows:

Level 1: Valuations based on quoted prices for identical securities in active markets.

Level 2: Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the fund’s net assets as of the close of the reporting period:

Valuation inputs
Investments in securities: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Municipal bonds and notes $— $875,735,049 $—
Unitized trust — — 584,884
Short-term investments — 64,121,428 —
Totals by level $— $939,856,477 $584,884
Valuation inputs
Other financial instruments: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Futures contracts $(246,849) $— $—
Total return swap contracts — (1,183,518) —
Totals by level $(246,849) $(1,183,518) $—
At the start and close of the reporting period, Level 3 investments in securities represented less than 1% of the fund’s net assets and were not considered a significant portion of the fund’s portfolio.


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.


48 Tax-Free High Yield Fund

 

Statement of assets and liabilities 7/31/21

ASSETS   
Investment in securities, at value(Notes 1 and 8):   
Unaffiliated issuers (identified cost $793,636,144)  $877,719,783 
Affiliated issuers (identified cost $62,721,578) (Notes 1 and 5)  62,721,578 
Interest and other receivables  7,849,299 
Receivable for shares of the fund sold  339,098 
Receivable for investments sold  15,450 
Receivable for variation margin on centrally cleared swap contracts (Note 1)  5,603 
Unrealized appreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  221,391 
Prepaid assets  45,586 
Total assets  948,917,788 
 
LIABILITIES   
Payable for investments purchased  2,686,221 
Payable for purchases of delayed delivery securities (Note 1)  17,246,264 
Payable for shares of the fund repurchased  1,826,128 
Payable for compensation of Manager (Note 2)  348,595 
Payable for custodian fees (Note 2)  9,318 
Payable for investor servicing fees (Note 2)  100,205 
Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  371,935 
Payable for administrative services (Note 2)  2,558 
Payable for distribution fees (Note 2)  165,692 
Payable for floating rate notes issued (Note 1)  25,999,173 
Payable for variation margin on futures contracts (Note 1)  47,952 
Distributions payable to shareholders  215,254 
Unrealized depreciation on OTC swap contracts (Note 1)  168,098 
Other accrued expenses  126,545 
Total liabilities  49,313,938 
 
Net assets  $899,603,850 
 
REPRESENTED BY   
Paid-in capital (Unlimited shares authorized) (Notes 1 and 4)  $804,218,315 
Total distributable earnings (Note 1)  95,385,535 
Total — Representing net assets applicable to capital shares outstanding  $899,603,850 

 

(Continued on next page)

 

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 49 

 

 

Statement of assets and liabilities cont.

COMPUTATION OF NET ASSET VALUE AND OFFERING PRICE   
Net asset value and redemption price per class A share   
($681,457,658 divided by 50,610,504 shares)  $13.46 
Offering price per class A share (100/96.00 of $13.46)*  $14.02 
Net asset value and offering price per class B share ($2,639,380 divided by 195,475 shares)**  $13.50 
Net asset value and offering price per class C share ($24,230,879 divided by 1,793,904 shares)**  $13.51 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class R6 share   
($1,680,359 divided by 124,220 shares)  $13.53 
Net asset value, offering price and redemption price per class Y share   
($189,595,574 divided by 14,018,239 shares)  $13.52 

 

* On single retail sales of less than $100,000. On sales of $100,000 or more the offering price is reduced.

** Redemption price per share is equal to net asset value less any applicable contingent deferred sales charge.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

50 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

Statement of operations Year ended 7/31/21

INVESTMENT INCOME   
Interest (including interest income of $48,246 from investments in affiliated issuers) (Note 5)  $33,502,036 
Total investment income  33,502,036 
 
EXPENSES   
Compensation of Manager (Note 2)  3,949,936 
Investor servicing fees (Note 2)  597,814 
Custodian fees (Note 2)  19,691 
Trustee compensation and expenses (Note 2)  37,321 
Distribution fees (Note 2)  1,938,815 
Administrative services (Note 2)  21,625 
Interest and fees expense (Note 1)  205,857 
Other  320,069 
Total expenses  7,091,128 
Expense reduction (Note 2)  (47,538) 
Net expenses  7,043,590 
 
Net investment income  26,458,446 
 
REALIZED AND UNREALIZED GAIN (LOSS)   
Net realized gain (loss) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers (Notes 1 and 3)  15,649,127 
Futures contracts (Note 1)  283,833 
Swap contracts (Note 1)  526,213 
Total net realized gain  16,459,173 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on:   
Securities from unaffiliated issuers  37,565,813 
Futures contracts  (246,849) 
Swap contracts  (1,584,112) 
Total change in net unrealized appreciation  35,734,852 
 
Net gain on investments  52,194,025 
 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  $78,652,471 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 51 

 

 

Statement of changes in net assets

INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS  Year ended 7/31/21  Year ended 7/31/20 
Operations     
Net investment income  $26,458,446  $28,787,624 
Net realized gain (loss) on investments  16,459,173  (1,778,952) 
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation)     
of investments  35,734,852  (4,551,519) 
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations  78,652,471  22,457,153 
Distributions to shareholders (Note 1):     
From ordinary income     
Taxable net investment income     
Class A  (346,852)  (1,130,720) 
Class B  (1,800)  (8,766) 
Class C  (15,851)  (78,145) 
Class R6  (725)  (2,069) 
Class Y  (82,200)  (260,254) 
From tax-exempt net investment income     
Class A  (20,241,227)  (22,107,088) 
Class B  (79,629)  (134,674) 
Class C  (630,160)  (1,123,503) 
Class M  —  (61,360) 
Class R6  (47,119)  (44,506) 
Class Y  (5,411,616)  (5,358,555) 
Net realized short-term gain on investments     
Class A  —  (3,070,466) 
Class B  —  (23,806) 
Class C  —  (212,202) 
Class R6  —  (5,616) 
Class Y  —  (706,818) 
From net realized long-term gain on investments     
Class A  (25,183)  (3,704,786) 
Class B  (97)  (28,724) 
Class C  (893)  (256,041) 
Class R6  (62)  (6,777) 
Class Y  (6,975)  (852,868) 
Increase (decrease) from capital share transactions (Note 4)  5,565,117  (30,449,987) 
Total increase (decrease) in net assets  57,327,199  (47,170,578) 
 
NET ASSETS     
Beginning of year  842,276,651  889,447,229 
End of year  $899,603,850  $842,276,651 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

52 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

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Tax-Free High Yield Fund 53 

 

 

Financial highlights (For a common share outstanding throughout the period)

  INVESTMENT OPERATIONS      LESS DISTRIBUTIONS        RATIOS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA   
                        Ratio of net   
  Net asset    Net realized                Ratio  investment   
  value,    and unrealized  Total from  From net  From    Net asset  Total return  Net assets,  of expenses  income (loss)  Portfolio 
  beginning  Net investment  gain (loss)  investment  investment  net realized gain  Total  value, end  at net asset  end of period  to average  to average  turnover 
Period ended­  of period­  income (loss)  on investments­  operations­  income­  on investments­  distributions  of period­  value (%)a  (in thousands)  net assets (%)b  net assets (%)  (%) 
Class A                           
July 31, 2021­  $12.67­  .40­  .79­  1.19­  (.40)  —c  (.40)  $13.46­  9.59­  $681,458­  .85­d  3.08­  25­ 
July 31, 2020  12.87­  .44­  (.07)  .37­  (.44)  (.13)  (.57)  12.67­  2.95­  658,929­  .86­d  3.36­  43­ 
July 31, 2019  12.49­  .45­  .40­  .85­  (.47)  —­  (.47)  12.87­  6.98­  680,689­  .84­d  3.59­  47­ 
July 31, 2018  12.51­  .49­  (.02)  .47­  (.49)  —­  (.49)  12.49­  3.81­  687,025­  .82­  3.71­  39­ 
July 31, 2017  13.01­  .51­  (.50)  .01­  (.51)  —­  (.51)  12.51­  .15­  715,286­  .83­  3.85­  32­ 
Class B                           
July 31, 2021­  $12.71­  .32­  .80­  1.12­  (.33)  —c  (.33)  $13.50­  8.92­  $2,639­  1.45­d  2.50­  25­ 
July 31, 2020  12.90­  .35­  (.05)  .30­  (.36)  (.13)  (.49)  12.71­  2.34­  4,034­  1.48­d  2.74­  43­ 
July 31, 2019  12.51­  .38­  .40­  .78­  (.39)  —­  (.39)  12.90­  6.39­  6,297­  1.46­d  2.98­  47­ 
July 31, 2018  12.54­  .41­  (.03)  .38­  (.41)  —­  (.41)  12.51­  3.08­  7,834­  1.44­  3.09­  39­ 
July 31, 2017  13.04­  .43­  (.50)  (.07)  (.43)  —­  (.43)  12.54­  (.47)  10,206­  1.45­  3.22­  32­ 
Class C                           
July 31, 2021­  $12.71­  .30­  .81­  1.11­  (.31)  —c  (.31)  $13.51­  8.84­  $24,231­  1.60­d  2.36­  25­ 
July 31, 2020  12.90­  .33­  (.05)  .28­  (.34)  (.13)  (.47)  12.71­  2.18­  30,283­  1.63­d  2.59­  43­ 
July 31, 2019  12.52­  .36­  .39­  .75­  (.37)  —­  (.37)  12.90­  6.15­  49,747­  1.61­d  2.83­  47­ 
July 31, 2018  12.54­  .39­  (.02)  .37­  (.39)  —­  (.39)  12.52­  3.00­  58,811­  1.59­  2.94­  39­ 
July 31, 2017  13.04­  .41­  (.50)  (.09)  (.41)  —­  (.41)  12.54­  (.62)  67,722­  1.60­  3.08­  32­ 
Class R6                           
July 31, 2021­  $12.73­  .44­  .80­  1.24­  (.44)  —c  (.44)  $13.53­  9.95­  $1,680­  .58­d  3.34­  25­ 
July 31, 2020  12.93­  .47­  (.06)  .41­  (.48)  (.13)  (.61)  12.73­  3.21­  1,269­  .61­d  3.61­  43­ 
July 31, 2019  12.54­  .48­  .41­  .89­  (.50)  —­  (.50)  12.93­  7.30­  1,121­  .59­d  3.83­  47­ 
July 31, 2018† ­  12.46­  .10­  .08­  .18­  (.10)  —­  (.10)  12.54­  1.41*  10­  .11*  .76*  39­ 
Class Y                           
July 31, 2021­  $12.73­  .43­  .80­  1.23­  (.44)  —c  (.44)  $13.52­  9.84­  $189,596­  .60­d  3.32­  25­ 
July 31, 2020  12.92­  .47­  (.06)  .41­  (.47)  (.13)  (.60)  12.73­  3.27­  147,762­  .63­d  3.59­  43­ 
July 31, 2019  12.54­  .48­  .40­  .88­  (.50)  —­  (.50)  12.92­  7.21­  145,164­  .61­d  3.82­  47­ 
July 31, 2018  12.56­  .52­  (.02)  .50­  (.52)  —­  (.52)  12.54­  4.03­  138,347­  .59­  3.93­  39­ 
July 31, 2017  13.06­  .53­  (.50)  .03­  (.53)  —­  (.53)  12.56­  .38­  157,229­  .60­  4.05­  32­ 

 

* Not annualized.

† For the period May 22, 2018 (commencement of operations) to July 31, 2018.

a Total return assumes dividend reinvestment and does not reflect the effect of sales charges.

b Includes amounts paid through expense offset arrangements, if any (Note 2). Also excludes acquired fund fees and expenses, if any.

c Amount represents less than $0.01 per share.

d Includes interest and fee expense associated with borrowings which amounted to (for each class):

  Percentage of average net assets 
July 31, 2021  0.02% 
July 31, 2020  0.04 
July 31, 2019  0.02 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

54 Tax-Free High Yield Fund  Tax-Free High Yield Fund 55 

 

 

Notes to financial statements 7/31/21

Within the following Notes to financial statements, references to “State Street” represent State Street Bank and Trust Company, references to “the SEC” represent the Securities and Exchange Commission, references to “Putnam Management” represent Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the fund’s manager, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC and references to “OTC”, if any, represent over-the-counter. Unless otherwise noted, the “reporting period” represents the period from August 1, 2020 through July 31, 2021.

Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund (the fund) is a diversified series of Putnam Tax-Free Income Trust (the Trust), a Massachusetts business trust registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, as an open-end management investment company. The goal of the fund is to seek high current income exempt from federal income tax. The fund invests mainly in bonds that pay interest that is exempt from federal income tax (but that may be subject to federal alternative minimum tax (AMT)), are a combination of below-investment-grade and investment-grade securities, and have intermediate- to long-term maturities (i.e., three years or longer). Under normal circumstances, Putnam Management invests at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in tax-exempt investments. This investment policy cannot be changed without the approval of the fund’s shareholders. Such tax-exempt investments in which the fund invests are issued by or for states, territories or possessions of the United States or by their political subdivisions, agencies, authorities or other government entities, and the income from these investments is exempt from federal income tax. Putnam Management may consider, among other factors, credit, interest rate and prepayment risks, as well as general market conditions, when deciding whether to buy or sell investments.

The fund offers class A, class B, class C, class R6 and class Y shares. Purchases of class B shares are closed to new and existing investors except by exchange from class B shares of another Putnam fund or through dividend and/or capital gains reinvestment. Class A shares are sold with a maximum front-end sales charge of 4.00%. Class A shares generally are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge, and class R6 and class Y shares are not subject to a contingent deferred sales charge. Class B shares, which convert to class A shares after approximately eight years, are not subject to a front-end sales charge and are subject to a contingent deferred sales charge if those shares are redeemed within six years of purchase. Class C shares are subject to a one-year 1.00% contingent deferred sales charge and generally convert to class A shares after approximately eight years. Prior to March 1, 2021, class C shares generally converted to class A shares after approximately ten years. The expenses for class A, class B and class C shares may differ based on the distribution fee of each class, which is identified in Note 2. Class R6 and class Y shares, which are sold at net asset value, are generally subject to the same expenses as class A, class B and class C shares, but do not bear a distribution fee, and in the case of class R6 shares, bear a lower investor servicing fee, which is identified in Note 2. Class R6 and class Y shares are not available to all investors.

In the normal course of business, the fund enters into contracts that may include agreements to indemnify another party under given circumstances. The fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be, but have not yet been, made against the fund. However, the fund’s management team expects the risk of material loss to be remote.

The fund has entered into contractual arrangements with an investment adviser, administrator, distributor, shareholder servicing agent and custodian, who each provide services to the fund. Unless expressly stated otherwise, shareholders are not parties to, or intended beneficiaries of these contractual arrangements, and these contractual arrangements are not intended to create any shareholder right to enforce them against the service providers or to seek any remedy under them against the service providers, either directly or on behalf of the fund.

Under the fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement and Declaration of Trust, any claims asserted against or on behalf of the Putnam Funds, including claims against Trustees and Officers, must be brought in state and federal courts located within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Note 1: Significant accounting policies

The following is a summary of significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the preparation of its financial statements. The preparation of financial statements is in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Subsequent events after the Statement of assets and liabilities date through the date that the financial statements were issued have been evaluated in the preparation of the financial statements.

56 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

Investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses of the fund are borne pro-rata based on the relative net assets of each class to the total net assets of the fund, except that each class bears expenses unique to that class (including the distribution fees applicable to such classes). Each class votes as a class only with respect to its own distribution plan or other matters on which a class vote is required by law or determined by the Trustees. If the fund were liquidated, shares of each class would receive their pro-rata share of the net assets of the fund. In addition, the Trustees declare separate dividends on each class of shares.

Security valuation Portfolio securities and other investments are valued using policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. The Trustees have formed a Pricing Committee to oversee the implementation of these procedures and have delegated responsibility for valuing the fund’s assets in accordance with these procedures to Putnam Management. Putnam Management has established an internal Valuation Committee that is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the pricing policies of the fund and reporting to the Pricing Committee.

Tax-exempt bonds and notes are generally valued on the basis of valuations provided by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees. Such services use information with respect to transactions in bonds, quotations from bond dealers, market transactions in comparable securities and various relationships between securities in determining value. These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2.

Market quotations are not considered to be readily available for certain debt obligations (including short-term investments with remaining maturities of 60 days or less) and other investments; such investments are valued on the basis of valuations furnished by an independent pricing service approved by the Trustees or dealers selected by Putnam Management. Such services or dealers determine valuations for normal institutional-size trading units of such securities using methods based on market transactions for comparable securities and various relationships, generally recognized by institutional traders, between securities (which consider such factors as security prices, yields, maturities and ratings). These securities will generally be categorized as Level 2. Securities quoted in foreign currencies, if any, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate.

Investments in open-end investment companies (excluding exchange-traded funds), if any, which can be classified as Level 1 or Level 2 securities, are valued based on their net asset value. The net asset value of such investment companies equals the total value of their assets less their liabilities and divided by the number of their outstanding shares.

To the extent a pricing service or dealer is unable to value a security or provides a valuation that Putnam Management does not believe accurately reflects the security’s fair value, the security will be valued at fair value by Putnam Management in accordance with policies and procedures approved by the Trustees. Certain investments, including certain restricted and illiquid securities and derivatives, are also valued at fair value following procedures approved by the Trustees. These valuations consider such factors as significant market or specific security events such as interest rate or credit quality changes, various relationships with other securities, discount rates, U.S. Treasury, U.S. swap and credit yields, index levels, convexity exposures, recovery rates, sales and other multiples and resale restrictions. These securities are classified as Level 2 or as Level 3 depending on the priority of the significant inputs.

To assess the continuing appropriateness of fair valuations, the Valuation Committee reviews and affirms the reasonableness of such valuations on a regular basis after considering all relevant information that is reasonably available. Such valuations and procedures are reviewed periodically by the Trustees. The fair value of securities is generally determined as the amount that the fund could reasonably expect to realize from an orderly disposition of such securities over a reasonable period of time. By its nature, a fair value price is a good faith estimate of the value of a security in a current sale and does not reflect an actual market price, which may be different by a material amount.

Security transactions and related investment income Security transactions are recorded on the trade date (the date the order to buy or sell is executed). Gains or losses on securities sold are determined on the identified cost basis.

Interest income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, if any, is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividend income, net of any applicable withholding taxes, is recognized on the ex-dividend date except that certain dividends from foreign securities, if any, are recognized as soon as the fund is informed of the ex-dividend date. Non-cash dividends, if any, are recorded at the fair value of the securities received. Dividends representing a return of capital or capital gains, if any, are reflected as a reduction of cost and/or as a realized gain.

Securities purchased or sold on a when-issued or forward commitment or delayed delivery basis may be settled at a future date beyond customary settlement time; interest income is accrued based on the terms of the

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 57 

 

 

securities. Losses may arise due to changes in the fair value of the underlying securities or if the counterparty does not perform under the contract.

Futures contracts The fund uses futures contracts for hedging treasury term structure risk and for yield curve positioning.

The potential risk to the fund is that the change in value of futures contracts may not correspond to the change in value of the hedged instruments. In addition, losses may arise from changes in the value of the underlying instruments, if there is an illiquid secondary market for the contracts, if interest or exchange rates move unexpectedly or if the counterparty to the contract is unable to perform. With futures, there is minimal counterparty credit risk to the fund since futures are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearinghouse, as counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures against default. Risks may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities. When the contract is closed, the fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract at the time it was opened and the value at the time it was closed.

Futures contracts are valued at the quoted daily settlement prices established by the exchange on which they trade. The fund and the broker agree to exchange an amount of cash equal to the daily fluctuation in the value of the futures contract. Such receipts or payments are known as “variation margin.”

Futures contracts outstanding at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Total return swap contracts The fund entered into OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts, which are arrangements to exchange a market-linked return for a periodic payment, both based on a notional principal amount, for hedging sector exposure and for gaining exposure to specific sectors.

To the extent that the total return of the security, index or other financial measure underlying the transaction exceeds or falls short of the offsetting interest rate obligation, the fund will receive a payment from or make a payment to the counterparty. OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts are marked to market daily based upon quotations from an independent pricing service or market maker. Any change is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss on OTC total return swaps. Daily fluctuations in the value of centrally cleared total return swaps are settled through a central clearing agent and are recorded in variation margin on the Statement of assets and liabilities and recorded as unrealized gain or loss. Payments received or made are recorded as realized gains or losses. Certain OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts may include extended effective dates. Payments related to these swap contracts are accrued based on the terms of the contract. The fund could be exposed to credit or market risk due to unfavorable changes in the fluctuation of interest rates or in the price of the underlying security or index, the possibility that there is no liquid market for these agreements or that the counterparty may default on its obligation to perform. The fund’s maximum risk of loss from counterparty risk or central clearing risk is the fair value of the contract. This risk may be mitigated for OTC total return swap contracts by having a master netting arrangement between the fund and the counterparty and for centrally cleared total return swap contracts through the daily exchange of variation margin. There is minimal counterparty risk with respect to centrally cleared total return swap contracts due to the clearinghouse guarantee fund and other resources that are available in the event of a clearing member default. Risk of loss may exceed amounts recognized on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

OTC and/or centrally cleared total return swap contracts outstanding, including their respective notional amounts at period end, if any, are listed after the fund’s portfolio.

Master agreements The fund is a party to ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc.) Master Agreements (Master Agreements) with certain counterparties that govern OTC derivative and foreign exchange contracts entered into from time to time. The Master Agreements may contain provisions regarding, among other things, the parties’ general obligations, representations, agreements, collateral requirements, events of default and early termination. With respect to certain counterparties, in accordance with the terms of the Master Agreements, collateral pledged to the fund is held in a segregated account by the fund’s custodian and, with respect to those amounts which can be sold or repledged, is presented in the fund’s portfolio.

Collateral pledged by the fund is segregated by the fund’s custodian and identified in the fund’s portfolio. Collateral can be in the form of cash or debt securities issued by the U.S. Government or related agencies or other securities as agreed to by the fund and the applicable counterparty. Collateral requirements are determined based on the fund’s net position with each counterparty.

Termination events applicable to the fund may occur upon a decline in the fund’s net assets below a specified threshold over a certain period of time. Termination events applicable to counterparties may occur upon a decline in the counterparty’s long-term and short-term credit ratings below a specified level. In each case,

58 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

upon occurrence, the other party may elect to terminate early and cause settlement of all derivative and foreign exchange contracts outstanding, including the payment of any losses and costs resulting from such early termination, as reasonably determined by the terminating party. Any decision by one or more of the fund’s counterparties to elect early termination could impact the fund’s future derivative activity.

At the close of the reporting period, the fund did not have a net liability position on open derivative contracts subject to the Master Agreements.

Tender option bond transactions The fund may participate in transactions whereby a fixed-rate bond is transferred to a tender option bond trust (TOB trust) sponsored by a broker. The TOB trust funds the purchase of the fixed rate bonds by issuing floating-rate bonds to third parties and allowing the fund to retain the residual interest in the TOB trust’s assets and cash flows, which are in the form of inverse floating rate bonds. The inverse floating rate bonds held by the fund give the fund the right to (1) cause the holders of the floating rate bonds to tender their notes at par, and (2) to have the fixed-rate bond held by the TOB trust transferred to the fund, causing the TOB trust to collapse. The fund accounts for the transfer of the fixed-rate bond to the TOB trust as a secured borrowing by including the fixed-rate bond in the fund’s portfolio and including the floating rate bond as a liability in the Statement of assets and liabilities. At the close of the reporting period, the fund’s investments with a value of $46,154,476 were held by the TOB trust and served as collateral for $25,999,173 in floating-rate bonds outstanding. For the reporting period ended, the fund incurred interest expense of $27,142 for these investments based on an average interest rate of 0.11%.

Interfund lending The fund, along with other Putnam funds, may participate in an interfund lending program pursuant to an exemptive order issued by the SEC. This program allows the fund to borrow from other Putnam funds that permit such transactions. Interfund lending transactions are subject to each fund’s investment policies and borrowing and lending limits. Interest earned or paid on the interfund lending transaction will be based on the average of certain current market rates. During the reporting period, the fund did not utilize the program.

Lines of credit The fund participates, along with other Putnam funds, in a $317.5 million unsecured committed line of credit and a $235.5 million unsecured uncommitted line of credit, both provided by State Street. Borrowings may be made for temporary or emergency purposes, including the funding of shareholder redemption requests and trade settlements. Interest is charged to the fund based on the fund’s borrowing at a rate equal to 1.25% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate for the committed line of credit and 1.30% plus the higher of (1) the Federal Funds rate and (2) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate for the uncommitted line of credit. A closing fee equal to 0.04% of the committed line of credit and 0.04% of the uncommitted line of credit has been paid by the participating funds. In addition, a commitment fee of 0.21% per annum on any unutilized portion of the committed line of credit is allocated to the participating funds based on their relative net assets and paid quarterly. During the reporting period, the fund had no borrowings against these arrangements.

Federal taxes It is the policy of the fund to distribute all of its income within the prescribed time period and otherwise comply with the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), applicable to regulated investment companies. It is also the intention of the fund to distribute an amount sufficient to avoid imposition of any excise tax under Section 4982 of the Code.

The fund is subject to the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification 740 Income Taxes (ASC 740). ASC 740 sets forth a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The fund did not have a liability to record for any unrecognized tax benefits in the accompanying financial statements. No provision has been made for federal taxes on income, capital gains or unrealized appreciation on securities held nor for excise tax on income and capital gains. Each of the fund’s federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remains subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

Distributions to shareholders Income dividends are recorded daily by the fund and are paid monthly. Distributions from capital gains, if any, are recorded on the ex-dividend date and paid at least annually. The amount and character of income and gains to be distributed are determined in accordance with income tax regulations which may differ from generally accepted accounting principles. These differences include temporary and/or permanent differences from losses on wash sale transactions and from straddle loss deferrals. Reclassifications are made to the fund’s capital accounts to reflect income and gains available for distribution (or available capital loss carryovers) under income tax regulations. At the close of the reporting period, the fund reclassified $293,789 to increase undistributed net investment income, $209,962 to decrease paid-in capital and $83,827 to decrease accumulated net realized gain.

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 59 

 

 

Tax cost of investments includes adjustments to net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) which may not necessarily be final tax cost basis adjustments, but closely approximate the tax basis unrealized gains and losses that may be realized and distributed to shareholders. The tax basis components of distributable earnings and the federal tax cost as of the close of the reporting period were as follows:

Unrealized appreciation  $84,812,746 
Unrealized depreciation  (3,901,193) 
Net unrealized appreciation  80,911,553 
Undistributed tax-exempt income  5,268,866 
Undistributed long-term gains  9,420,368 
Cost for federal income tax purposes  $858,099,441 

 

Expenses of the Trust Expenses directly charged or attributable to any fund will be paid from the assets of that fund. Generally, expenses of the Trust will be allocated among and charged to the assets of each fund on a basis that the Trustees deem fair and equitable, which may be based on the relative assets of each fund or the nature of the services performed and relative applicability to each fund.

Note 2: Management fee, administrative services and other transactions

The fund pays Putnam Management a management fee (based on the fund’s average net assets and computed and paid monthly) at annual rates that may vary based on the average of the aggregate net assets of all open-end mutual funds sponsored by Putnam Management (excluding net assets of funds that are invested in, or that are invested in by, other Putnam funds to the extent necessary to avoid “double counting” of those assets). Such annual rates may vary as follows:

0.630%  of the first $5 billion,  0.430%  of the next $50 billion, 
0.580%  of the next $5 billion,  0.410%  of the next $50 billion, 
0.530%  of the next $10 billion,  0.400%  of the next $100 billion and 
0.480%  of the next $10 billion,  0.395%  of any excess thereafter. 

 

For the reporting period, the management fee represented an effective rate (excluding the impact from any expense waivers in effect) of 0.463% of the fund’s average net assets.

Putnam Management has contractually agreed, through November 30, 2022, to waive fees and/or reimburse the fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to limit the cumulative expenses of the fund, exclusive of brokerage, interest, taxes, investment-related expenses, extraordinary expenses, acquired fund fees and expenses and payments under the fund’s investor servicing contract, investment management contract and distribution plans, on a fiscal year-to-date basis to an annual rate of 0.20% of the fund’s average net assets over such fiscal year-to-date period. During the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were not reduced as a result of this limit.

Putnam Investments Limited (PIL), an affiliate of Putnam Management, is authorized by the Trustees to manage a separate portion of the assets of the fund as determined by Putnam Management from time to time. PIL did not manage any portion of the assets of the fund during the reporting period. If Putnam Management were to engage the services of PIL, Putnam Management would pay a quarterly sub-management fee to PIL for its services at an annual rate of 0.40% of the average net assets of the portion of the fund managed by PIL.

The fund reimburses Putnam Management an allocated amount for the compensation and related expenses of certain officers of the fund and their staff who provide administrative services to the fund. The aggregate amount of all such reimbursements is determined annually by the Trustees.

Custodial functions for the fund’s assets are provided by State Street. Custody fees are based on the fund’s asset level, the number of its security holdings and transaction volumes.

Putnam Investor Services, Inc., an affiliate of Putnam Management, provides investor servicing agent functions to the fund. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. received fees for investor servicing for class A, class B, class C and class Y shares that included (1) a per account fee for each direct and underlying non-defined contribution account (retail account) of the fund; (2) a specified rate of the fund’s assets attributable to defined contribution plan accounts; and (3) a specified rate based on the average net assets in retail accounts. Putnam Investor Services, Inc. has agreed that the aggregate investor servicing fees for each fund’s retail and defined contribution accounts

60 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

for these share classes will not exceed an annual rate of 0.25% of the fund’s average assets attributable to such accounts. Effective November 25, 2019, the fund converted all of its class M shares to class A shares and class M shares were no longer able to be purchased.

Class R6 shares paid a monthly fee based on the average net assets of class R6 shares at an annual rate of 0.05%.

During the reporting period, the expenses for each class of shares related to investor servicing fees were as follows:

Class A  $461,724  Class R6  707 
Class B  2,238  Class Y  114,280 
Class C  18,865  Total  $597,814 

 

The fund has entered into expense offset arrangements with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. and State Street whereby Putnam Investor Services, Inc.’s and State Street’s fees are reduced by credits allowed on cash balances. For the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were reduced by $47,538 under the expense offset arrangements.

The fund has entered into expense offset arrangements with Putnam Investor Services, Inc. and State Street whereby Putnam Investor Services, Inc.’s and State Street’s fees are reduced by credits allowed on cash balances. For the reporting period, the fund’s expenses were not reduced under the expense offset arrangements.

Each Independent Trustee of the fund receives an annual Trustee fee, of which $574, as a quarterly retainer, has been allocated to the fund, and an additional fee for each Trustees meeting attended. Trustees also are reimbursed for expenses they incur relating to their services as Trustees.

The fund has adopted a Trustee Fee Deferral Plan (the Deferral Plan) which allows the Trustees to defer the receipt of all or a portion of Trustees fees payable on or after July 1, 1995. The deferred fees remain invested in certain Putnam funds until distribution in accordance with the Deferral Plan.

The fund has adopted an unfunded noncontributory defined benefit pension plan (the Pension Plan) covering all Trustees of the fund who have served as a Trustee for at least five years and were first elected prior to 2004. Benefits under the Pension Plan are equal to 50% of the Trustee’s average annual attendance and retainer fees for the three years ended December 31, 2005. The retirement benefit is payable during a Trustee’s lifetime, beginning the year following retirement, for the number of years of service through December 31, 2006. Pension expense for the fund is included in Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of operations. Accrued pension liability is included in Payable for Trustee compensation and expenses in the Statement of assets and liabilities. The Trustees have terminated the Pension Plan with respect to any Trustee first elected after 2003.

The fund has adopted distribution plans (the Plans) with respect to the following share classes pursuant to Rule 12b–1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The purpose of the Plans is to compensate Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Putnam Investments, LLC, for services provided and expenses incurred in distributing shares of the fund. The Plans provide payments by the fund to Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership at an annual rate of up to the following amounts (Maximum %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. The Trustees have approved payment by the fund at the following annual rate (Approved %) of the average net assets attributable to each class. During the reporting period, the class-specific expenses related to distribution fees were as follows:

  Maximum %  Approved %  Amount 
Class A  0.35%  0.25%  $1,643,899 
Class B  1.00%  0.85%  27,016 
Class C  1.00%  1.00%  267,900 
Total      $1,938,815 

 

For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received net commissions of $32,941 from the sale of class A shares and received $277 and $142 in contingent deferred sales charges from redemptions of class B and class C shares, respectively.

A deferred sales charge of up to 1.00% is assessed on certain redemptions of class A shares. For the reporting period, Putnam Retail Management Limited Partnership, acting as underwriter, received no monies on class A redemptions.

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 61 

 

 

Note 3: Purchases and sales of securities

During the reporting period, the cost of purchases and the proceeds from sales, excluding short-term investments, were as follows:

  Cost of purchases  Proceeds from sales 
Investments in securities (Long-term)  $205,897,632  $222,325,315 
U.S. government securities (Long-term)  —  — 
Total  $205,897,632  $222,325,315 

 

The fund may purchase or sell investments from or to other Putnam funds in the ordinary course of business, which can reduce the fund’s transaction costs, at prices determined in accordance with SEC requirements and policies approved by the Trustees. During the reporting period, purchases or sales of long-term securities from or to other Putnam funds, if any, did not represent more than 5% of the fund’s total cost of purchases and/or total proceeds from sales.

Note 4: Capital shares

At the close of the reporting period, there were an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized. Transactions, including, if applicable, direct exchanges pursuant to share conversions, in capital shares were as follows:

  YEAR ENDED 7/31/21  YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 
Class A  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  3,973,708  $51,937,441  5,976,273  $75,963,928 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  1,365,044  17,726,904  2,073,051  26,300,349 
  5,338,752  69,664,345  8,049,324  102,264,277 
Shares repurchased  (6,717,838)  (86,982,896)  (8,961,044)  (111,874,544) 
Net decrease  (1,379,086)  $(17,318,551)  (911,720)  $(9,610,267) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/21  YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 
Class B  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  2,740  $35,564  2,612  $33,763 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  5,021  65,181  12,652  161,514 
  7,761  100,745  15,264  195,277 
Shares repurchased  (129,625)  (1,674,714)  (186,202)  (2,362,603) 
Net decrease  (121,864)  $(1,573,969)  (170,938)  $(2,167,326) 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/21  YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 
Class C  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  458,466  $6,036,797  342,190  $4,389,985 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  45,133  586,476  87,962  1,121,512 
  503,599  6,623,273  430,152  5,511,497 
Shares repurchased  (1,091,555)  (14,216,426)  (1,904,909)  (23,816,185) 
Net decrease  (587,956)  $(7,593,153)  (1,474,757)  $(18,304,688) 

 

62 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

  YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 * 
Class M  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  2,081  $27,038 
Shares issued in connection with reinvestment of distributions  3,363  43,820 
  5,444  70,858 
Shares repurchased  (505,032)  (6,541,035) 
Net increase (decrease)  (499,588)  $(6,470,177) 

 

  YEAR ENDED 7/31/21  YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 
Class R6  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  35,429  $466,045  45,586  $583,573 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  3,660  47,814  4,644  58,968 
  39,089  513,859  50,230  642,541 
Shares repurchased  (14,530)  (190,470)  (37,285)  (472,224) 
Net increase  24,559  $323,389  12,945  $170,317 
 
  YEAR ENDED 7/31/21  YEAR ENDED 7/31/20 
Class Y  Shares  Amount  Shares  Amount 
Shares sold  4,634,984  $60,563,500  3,812,849  $48,439,053 
Shares issued in connection with         
reinvestment of distributions  335,037  4,378,583  440,204  5,609,692 
  4,970,021  64,942,083  4,253,053  54,048,745 
Shares repurchased  (2,558,243)  (33,214,682)  (3,879,303)  (48,116,591) 
Net increase  2,411,778  $31,727,401  373,750  $5,932,154 

 

* Effective November 25, 2019, the fund converted all of its class M shares to class A shares and class M shares were no longer able to be purchased.

Note 5: Affiliated transactions

Transactions during the reporting period with any company which is under common ownership or control were as follows:

          Shares 
          outstanding 
          and fair 
  Fair value as  Purchase  Sale  Investment  value as 
Name of affiliate  of 7/31/20  cost  proceeds  income  of 7/31/21 
Short-term investments           
Putnam Short Term           
Investment Fund*  $34,820,739  $265,122,499  $237,221,660  $48,246  $62,721,578 
Total Short-term           
investments  $34,820,739  $265,122,499  $237,221,660  $48,246  $62,721,578 

 

* Management fees charged to Putnam Short Term Investment Fund have been waived by Putnam Management. There were no realized or unrealized gains or losses during the period.

 

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 63 

 

 

Note 6: Market, credit and other risks

In the normal course of business, the fund trades financial instruments and enters into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the contracting party to the transaction to perform (credit risk). The fund may be exposed to additional credit risk that an institution or other entity with which the fund has unsettled or open transactions will default.

On July 27, 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), which regulates LIBOR, announced a desire to phase out the use of LIBOR by the end of 2021. On March 5, 2021, the FCA and LIBOR’s administrator, ICE Benchmark Administration, announced that most LIBOR settings will no longer be published after the end of 2021 and a majority of U.S. dollar LIBOR settings will no longer be published after June 30, 2023. LIBOR has historically been a common benchmark interest rate index used to make adjustments to variable-rate loans. It is used throughout global banking and financial industries to determine interest rates for a variety of financial instruments and borrowing arrangements. The transition process might lead to increased volatility and illiquidity in markets that currently rely on LIBOR to determine interest rates. It could also lead to a reduction in the value of some LIBOR-based investments and reduce the effectiveness of new hedges placed against existing LIBOR-based investments. While some LIBOR-based instruments may contemplate a scenario where LIBOR is no longer available by providing for an alternative rate-setting methodology, not all may have such provisions and there may be significant uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of any such alternative methodologies. Since the usefulness of LIBOR as a benchmark could deteriorate during the transition period, these effects could occur prior to the date on which the applicable rate ceases to be published.

Beginning in January 2020, global financial markets have experienced, and may continue to experience, significant volatility resulting from the spread of a virus known as Covid–19. The outbreak of Covid–19 has resulted in travel and border restrictions, quarantines, supply chain disruptions, lower consumer demand, and general market uncertainty. The effects of Covid–19 have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the global economy, the economies of certain nations, and individual issuers, all of which may negatively impact the fund’s performance.

Note 7: Summary of derivative activity

The volume of activity for the reporting period for any derivative type that was held during the period is listed below and was based on an average of the holdings at the end of each fiscal quarter:

Futures contracts (number of contracts)  200 
OTC total return swap contracts (notional)  $26,900,000 
Centrally cleared total return swap contracts (notional)  $18,200,000 

 

64 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

The following is a summary of the fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period:

Fair value of derivative instruments as of the close of the reporting period   
  ASSET DERIVATIVES  LIABILITY DERIVATIVES 
Derivatives not         
accounted for as  Statement of    Statement of   
hedging instruments  assets and    assets and   
under ASC 815  liabilities location  Fair value  liabilities location  Fair value 
Interest rate contracts  Receivables  $221,391  Payables  $1,651,758* 
Total    $221,391    $1,651,758 

 

* Includes cumulative appreciation/depreciation of futures contracts and/or centrally cleared swaps as reported in the fund’s portfolio. Only current day’s variation margin is reported within the Statement of assets and liabilities.

The following is a summary of realized and change in unrealized gains or losses of derivative instruments in the Statement of operations for the reporting period (Note 1):

Amount of realized gain or (loss) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) on investments   
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging       
instruments under ASC 815  Futures  Swaps  Total 
Interest rate contracts  $283,833  $526,213  $810,046 
Total  $283,833  $526,213  $810,046 

 

Change in unrealized appreciation or (depreciation) on derivatives recognized in net gain or (loss) 
on investments       
Derivatives not accounted for as hedging       
instruments under ASC 815  Futures  Swaps  Total 
Interest rate contracts  $(246,849)  $(1,584,112)  $(1,830,961) 
Total  $(246,849)  $(1,584,112)  $(1,830,961) 

 

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 65 

 

 

Note 8: Offsetting of financial and derivative assets and liabilities

The following table summarizes any derivatives, repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements, at the end of the reporting period, that are subject to an enforceable master netting agreement or similar agreement. For securities lending transactions or borrowing transactions associated with securities sold short, if any, see Note 1. For financial reporting purposes, the fund does not offset financial assets and financial liabilities that are subject to the master netting agreements in the Statement of assets and liabilities.

  Credit Suisse       
  Securities (USA),    Morgan Stanley   
  LLC (clearing  JPMorgan  & Co.   
  broker)  Securities LLC  International PLC  Total 
Assets:         
OTC Total return swap contracts*#  $—  $—  $221,391  $221,391 
Centrally cleared total return  5,603  —  —  5,603 
swap contracts§         
Futures contracts§  —  —  —  — 
Total Assets  $5,603  $—  $221,391  $226,994 
Liabilities:         
OTC Total return swap contracts*#  —  —  168,098  168,098 
Centrally cleared total return  —  —  —  — 
swap contracts§         
Futures contracts§  —  47,952  —  47,952 
Total Liabilities  $—  $47,952  $168,098  $216,050 
Total Financial and Derivative  $5,603  $(47,952)  $53,293  $10,944 
Net Assets         
Total collateral  $—  $—  $—   
received (pledged)†##         
Net amount  $5,603  $(47,952)  $53,293   
Controlled collateral received         
(including TBA commitments)**  $—  $—  $—  $— 
Uncontrolled collateral received  $—  $—  $—  $— 
Collateral (pledged) (including         
TBA commitments)**  $—  $—  $—  $— 

 

* Excludes premiums, if any. Included in unrealized appreciation and depreciation on OTC swap contracts on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

** Included with Investments in securities on the Statement of assets and liabilities.

† Additional collateral may be required from certain brokers based on individual agreements.

# Covered by master netting agreement (Note 1).

## Any over-collateralization of total financial and derivative net assets is not shown. Collateral may include amounts related to unsettled agreements.

§ Includes current day’s variation margin only as reported on the Statement of assets and liabilities, which is not collateralized. Cumulative appreciation/(depreciation) for futures contracts and centrally cleared swap contracts is represented in the tables listed after the fund’s portfolio. Collateral pledged for initial margin on futures contracts and centrally cleared swap contracts, which is not included in the table above, amounted to $315,968 and $993,900, respectively.

66 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

Note 9: New accounting pronouncements

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020–04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848) — Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The amendments in ASU 2020–04 provide optional temporary financial reporting relief from the effect of certain types of contract modifications due to the planned discontinuation of LIBOR and other interbank-offered based reference rates as of the end of 2021. The discontinuation of LIBOR was subsequently extended to June 30, 2023. ASU 2020–04 is effective for certain reference rate-related contract modifications that occur during the period March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. Management is currently evaluating the impact, if any, of applying this provision.

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 67 

 

 

Federal tax information (Unaudited)

The fund has designated 98.33% of dividends paid from net investment income during the reporting period as tax exempt for federal income tax purposes.

Pursuant to §852 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, the fund hereby designates $10,398,936 as a capital gain dividend with respect to the taxable year ended July 31, 2021, or, if subsequently determined to be different, the net capital gain of such year.

The Form 1099 that will be mailed to you in January 2022 will show the tax status of all distributions paid to your account in calendar 2021.

68 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 


Tax-Free High Yield Fund 69 

 

 


* Mr. Reynolds is an “interested person” (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940) of the fund and Putnam Investments. He is President and Chief Executive Officer of Putnam Investments, as well as the President of your fund and each of the other Putnam funds.

The address of each Trustee is 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

As of July 31, 2021, there were 100 Putnam funds. All Trustees serve as Trustees of all Putnam funds.

Each Trustee serves for an indefinite term, until his or her resignation, retirement at age 75, removal, or death.

70 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

Officers

In addition to Robert L. Reynolds, the other officers of the fund are shown below:

James F. Clark (Born 1974)  Susan G. Malloy (Born 1957) 
Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer  Vice President and Assistant Treasurer 
Since 2016  Since 2007 
Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Risk Officer,  Head of Accounting and Middle Office Services, 
Putnam Investments and Chief Compliance Officer,  Putnam Investments and Putnam Management 
Putnam Management   
  Denere P. Poulack (Born 1968) 
Nancy E. Florek (Born 1957)  Assistant Vice President, Assistant Clerk, 
Vice President, Director of Proxy Voting and Corporate  and Assistant Treasurer 
Governance, Assistant Clerk, and Assistant Treasurer  Since 2004 
Since 2000   
  Janet C. Smith (Born 1965) 
Michael J. Higgins (Born 1976)  Vice President, Principal Financial Officer, Principal 
Vice President, Treasurer, and Clerk  Accounting Officer, and Assistant Treasurer 
Since 2010  Since 2007 
  Head of Fund Administration Services, 
Jonathan S. Horwitz (Born 1955)  Putnam Investments and Putnam Management 
Executive Vice President, Principal Executive Officer,   
and Compliance Liaison  Stephen J. Tate (Born 1974) 
Since 2004  Vice President and Chief Legal Officer 
  Since 2021 
Richard T. Kircher (Born 1962)  General Counsel, Putnam Investments, 
Vice President and BSA Compliance Officer  Putnam Management, and Putnam Retail Management 
Since 2019   
Assistant Director, Operational Compliance, Putnam  Mark C. Trenchard (Born 1962) 
Investments and Putnam Retail Management  Vice President 
  Since 2002 
  Director of Operational Compliance, Putnam 
  Investments and Putnam Retail Management 

 

The principal occupations of the officers for the past five years have been with the employers as shown above, although in some cases they have held different positions with such employers. The address of each officer is 100 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110.

 

Tax-Free High Yield Fund 71 

 

 

Services for shareholders

Investor services

Systematic investment plan Tell us how much you wish to invest regularly — weekly, semimonthly, or monthly — and the amount you choose will be transferred automatically from your checking or savings account. There’s no additional fee for this service, and you can suspend it at any time. This plan may be a great way to save for college expenses or to plan for your retirement.

Please note that regular investing does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss in a declining market. Before arranging a systematic investment plan, consider your financial ability to continue making purchases in periods when prices are low.

Systematic exchange You can make regular transfers from one Putnam fund to another Putnam fund. There are no additional fees for this service, and you can cancel or change your options at any time.

Dividends PLUS You can choose to have the dividend distributions from one of your Putnam funds automatically reinvested in another Putnam fund at no additional charge.

Free exchange privilege You can exchange money between Putnam funds free of charge, as long as they are the same class of shares. A signature guarantee is required if you are exchanging more than $500,000. The fund reserves the right to revise or terminate the exchange privilege.

Reinstatement privilege If you’ve sold Putnam shares or received a check for a dividend or capital gain, you may reinvest the proceeds with Putnam within 90 days of the transaction and they will be reinvested at the fund’s current net asset value — with no sales charge. However, reinstatement of class B shares may have special tax consequences. Ask your financial or tax representative for details.

Check-writing service You have ready access to many Putnam accounts. It’s as simple as writing a check, and there are no special fees or service charges. For more information about the check-writing service, call Putnam or visit our website.

Dollar cost averaging When you’re investing for long-term goals, it’s time, not timing, that counts. Investing on a systematic basis is a better strategy than trying to figure out when the markets will go up or down. This means investing the same amount of money regularly over a long period. This method of investing is called dollar cost averaging. When a fund’s share price declines, your investment dollars buy more shares at lower prices. When it increases, they buy fewer shares. Over time, you will pay a lower average price per share.

For more information

Visit the Individual Investors section at putnam.com A secure section of our website contains complete information on your account, including balances and transactions, updated daily. You may also conduct transactions, such as exchanges, additional investments, and address changes. Log on today to get your password.

Call us toll free at 1-800-225-1581 Ask a helpful Putnam representative or your financial advisor for details about any of these or other services, or see your prospectus.

72 Tax-Free High Yield Fund 

 

 

Fund information

Founded over 80 years ago, Putnam Investments was built around the concept that a balance between risk and reward is the hallmark of a well-rounded financial program. We manage funds across income, value, blend, growth, sustainable, asset allocation, absolute return, and global sector categories.

Investment Manager  Trustees  Jonathan S. Horwitz 
Putnam Investment  Kenneth R. Leibler, Chair  Executive Vice President, 
Management, LLC  Liaquat Ahamed  Principal Executive Officer, 
100 Federal Street  Ravi Akhoury  and Compliance Liaison 
Boston, MA 02110  Barbara M. Baumann   
  Katinka Domotorffy  Richard T. Kircher 
Investment Sub-Advisor  Catharine Bond Hill  Vice President and BSA 
Putnam Investments Limited  Paul L. Joskow  Compliance Officer 
16 St James’s Street  George Putnam, III   
London, England SW1A 1ER  Robert L. Reynolds  Susan G. Malloy 
  Manoj P. Singh  Vice President and 
Marketing Services  Mona K. Sutphen  Assistant Treasurer 
Putnam Retail Management     
100 Federal Street  Officers  Denere P. Poulack 
Boston, MA 02110  Robert L. Reynolds  Assistant Vice President, 
  President  Assistant Clerk, and 
Custodian    Assistant Treasurer 
State Street Bank  James F. Clark   
and Trust Company  Vice President, Chief Compliance  Janet C. Smith 
Officer, and Chief Risk Officer  Vice President, 
Legal Counsel    Principal Financial Officer, 
Ropes & Gray LLP  Nancy E. Florek  Principal Accounting Officer, 
  Vice President, Director of  and Assistant Treasurer 
Independent Registered  Proxy Voting and Corporate   
Public Accounting Firm  Governance, Assistant Clerk,  Stephen J. Tate 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP  and Assistant Treasurer  Vice President and 
    Chief Legal Officer 
  Michael J. Higgins   
  Vice President, Treasurer,  Mark C. Trenchard 
  and Clerk  Vice President 
     

 

This report is for the information of shareholders of Putnam Tax-Free High Yield Fund. It may also be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the current prospectus, the most recent copy of Putnam’s Quarterly Performance Summary, and Putnam’s Quarterly Ranking Summary. For more recent performance, please visit putnam.com. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund, which are described in its prospectus. For this and other information or to request a prospectus or summary prospectus, call 1-800-225-1581 toll free. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. The fund’s Statement of Additional Information contains additional information about the fund’s Trustees and is available without charge upon request by calling 1-800-225-1581.

 


Item 2. Code of Ethics:
(a) The fund's principal executive, financial and accounting officers are employees of Putnam Investment Management, LLC, the Fund's investment manager. As such they are subject to a comprehensive Code of Ethics adopted and administered by Putnam Investments which is designed to protect the interests of the firm and its clients. The Fund has adopted a Code of Ethics which incorporates the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments with respect to all of its officers and Trustees who are employees of Putnam Investment Management, LLC. For this reason, the Fund has not adopted a separate code of ethics governing its principal executive, financial and accounting officers.

(c) In April 2021, the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments was amended. The key changes to the Code of Ethics are as follows: (i) Employees may invest in the Putnam Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) with preclearing requirements for certain individuals (ii) All employees must hold Putnam ETFs in an approved Putnam broker (iii) All access persons must report Putnam ETF trades or holdings in the quarterly transaction report or annual holdings report.

Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert:
The Funds' Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee is comprised solely of Trustees who are “independent” (as such term has been defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in regulations implementing Section 407 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (the “Regulations”)). The Trustees believe that each member of the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee also possesses a combination of knowledge and experience with respect to financial accounting matters, as well as other attributes, that qualifies him or her for service on the Committee. In addition, the Trustees have determined that each of Dr. Hill, Dr. Joskow, and Mr. Singh qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert” (as such term has been defined by the Regulations) based on their review of his or her pertinent experience and education; in the case of Dr. Joskow, including his experience serving on the audit committees of several public companies and institutions and his education and experience as an economist who studies companies and industries, routinely using public company financial statements in his research. The SEC has stated, and the funds' amended and restated agreement and Declaration of Trust provides, that the designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert pursuant to this Item 3 of Form N-CSR does not impose on such person any duties, obligations or liability that are greater than the duties, obligations and liability imposed on such person as a member of the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee and the Board of Trustees in the absence of such designation or identification.

Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services:
The following table presents fees billed in each of the last two fiscal years for services rendered to the fund by the fund's independent auditor:


Fiscal year ended Audit Fees Audit-Related Fees Tax Fees All Other Fees
July 31, 2021 $75,818 $ — $8,890 $ —
July 31, 2020 $76,203 $ — $8,890 $ —

For the fiscal years ended July 31, 2021 and July 31, 2020, the fund's independent auditor billed aggregate non-audit fees in the amounts of $318,190 and $354,732 respectively, to the fund, Putnam Management and any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with Putnam Management that provides ongoing services to the fund.

Audit Fees represent fees billed for the fund's last two fiscal years relating to the audit and review of the financial statements included in annual reports and registration statements, and other services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

Audit-Related Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for services traditionally performed by the fund's auditor, including accounting consultation for proposed transactions or concerning financial accounting and reporting standards and other audit or attest services not required by statute or regulation.

Tax Fees represent fees billed in the fund's last two fiscal years for tax compliance, tax planning and tax advice services. Tax planning and tax advice services include assistance with tax audits, employee benefit plans and requests for rulings or technical advice from taxing authorities.

Pre-Approval Policies of the Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee. The Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee of the Putnam funds has determined that, as a matter of policy, all work performed for the funds by the funds' independent auditors will be pre-approved by the Committee itself and thus will generally not be subject to pre-approval procedures.

The Audit, Compliance and Risk Committee also has adopted a policy to pre-approve the engagement by Putnam Management and certain of its affiliates of the funds' independent auditors, even in circumstances where pre-approval is not required by applicable law. Any such requests by Putnam Management or certain of its affiliates are typically submitted in writing to the Committee and explain, among other things, the nature of the proposed engagement, the estimated fees, and why this work should be performed by that particular audit firm as opposed to another one. In reviewing such requests, the Committee considers, among other things, whether the provision of such services by the audit firm are compatible with the independence of the audit firm.

The following table presents fees billed by the fund's independent auditor for services required to be approved pursuant to paragraph (c)(7)(ii) of Rule 2–01 of Regulation S-X.


Fiscal year ended Audit-Related Fees Tax Fees All Other Fees Total Non-Audit Fees
July 31, 2021 $ — $309,300 $ — $ —
July 31, 2020 $ — $345,842 $ — $ —

Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants
Not Applicable

Item 6. Schedule of Investments:
The registrant's schedule of investments in unaffiliated issuers is included in the report to shareholders in Item 1 above.

Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures For Closed-End Management Investment Companies:
Not applicable

Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Investment Companies
Not Applicable

Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Companies and Affiliated Purchasers:
Not applicable

Item 10. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders:
Not Applicable

Item 11. Controls and Procedures:
(a) The registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded, based on their evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 180 days of the filing date of this report, that the design and operation of such procedures are generally effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission's rules and forms.

(b) Changes in internal control over financial reporting: Not applicable

Item 12. Disclosures of Securities Lending Activities for Closed-End Management Investment Companies:
Not applicable

Item 13. Exhibits:
(a)(1) The Code of Ethics of The Putnam Funds, which incorporates the Code of Ethics of Putnam Investments, is filed herewith.

(a)(2) Separate certifications for the principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.

(b) The certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, are filed herewith.

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Putnam Tax Free Income Trust
By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Janet C. Smith
Janet C. Smith
Principal Accounting Officer

Date: September 28, 2021
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Jonathan S. Horwitz
Jonathan S. Horwitz
Principal Executive Officer

Date: September 28, 2021
By (Signature and Title):
/s/ Janet C. Smith
Janet C. Smith
Principal Financial Officer

Date: September 28, 2021