<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000928816-14-001177-index.html : 20140730
<SEC-HEADER>0000928816-14-001177.hdr.sgml : 20140730
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20140730145730
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000928816-14-001177
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	NSAR-B
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		9
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20140531
FILED AS OF DATE:		20140730
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20140730
EFFECTIVENESS DATE:		20140730

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000811921
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		NSAR-B
		SEC ACT:		1940 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05079
		FILM NUMBER:		141002483

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-663-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JOHN HANCOCK FUNDS
		STREET 2:		601 CONGRESS STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02210

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	JOHN HANCOCK TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20110214

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HANCOCK JOHN TAX EXEMPT SERIES TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19901023
<SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS-DATA>
<EXISTING-SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS>
<SERIES>
<OWNER-CIK>0000811921
<SERIES-ID>S000000649
<SERIES-NAME>Massachusetts Tax-Free Income Fund
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000001868
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class A
<CLASS-CONTRACT-TICKER-SYMBOL>JHMAX
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000001869
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class B
<CLASS-CONTRACT-TICKER-SYMBOL>JHMBX
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000001870
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class C
<CLASS-CONTRACT-TICKER-SYMBOL>JMACX
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
</SERIES>
<SERIES>
<OWNER-CIK>0000811921
<SERIES-ID>S000000650
<SERIES-NAME>New York Tax-Free Income Fund
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000001871
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class A
<CLASS-CONTRACT-TICKER-SYMBOL>JHNYX
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000001872
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class B
<CLASS-CONTRACT-TICKER-SYMBOL>JNTRX
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT>
<CLASS-CONTRACT-ID>C000001873
<CLASS-CONTRACT-NAME>Class C
<CLASS-CONTRACT-TICKER-SYMBOL>JNYCX
</CLASS-CONTRACT>
</SERIES>
</EXISTING-SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS>
</SERIES-AND-CLASSES-CONTRACTS-DATA>
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>NSAR-B
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a_taxexemptseriesfund.fil
<DESCRIPTION>JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT SERIES FUND
<TEXT>
Document 1 - file: a_taxexemptseriesfund.fil

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77B ACCT LTTR
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>b_taxexempt77b.htm
<DESCRIPTION>ACCOUNTANT'S LETTER
<TEXT>
Document 2 - file: b_taxexempt77b.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>c_exhibit77q1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
Document 3 - file: c_exhibit77q1.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>d_exhibit77q1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
Document 4 - file: d_exhibit77q1.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB
<SEQUENCE>5
<FILENAME>e_exhibit77q1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED AND RESTATED TRANSFER AGENCY AND SERVICE AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
Document 5 - file: e_exhibit77q1.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB
<SEQUENCE>6
<FILENAME>f_exhibit77q1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>SERVICE AGREEMENT
<TEXT>
Document 6 - file: f_exhibit77q1.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB
<SEQUENCE>7
<FILENAME>g_exhibit77q1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>MULTIPLE CLASS PLAN PURSUANT TO RULE 18F-3
<TEXT>
Document 7 - file: g_exhibit77q1.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77Q1 OTHR EXHB
<SEQUENCE>8
<FILENAME>h_exhibit77q1.htm
<DESCRIPTION>RULE 12B-1 FEE WAIVER LETTER AGREEMEN
<TEXT>
Document 8 - file: h_exhibit77q1.htm

</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.77Q3
<SEQUENCE>9
<FILENAME>q3_77q3exemptiveorder.htm
<DESCRIPTION>77-Q3 EXEMPTIVE ORDER
<TEXT>
Document 9 - file: q3_77q3exemptiveorder.htm

</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>