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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198272-08-000004.txt : 20080221
<SEC-HEADER>0001198272-08-000004.hdr.sgml : 20080221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080221143409
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198272-08-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080221

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000848077
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				046621377
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		STREET 2:		MAILSTOP A 14
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6177601000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KENNAN ELIZABETH T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001192343

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05795
		FILM NUMBER:		08632561

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8606655000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		NORTHEAST UTILTIES
		STREET 2:		107 SELDEN STREET
		CITY:			BERLIN
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06037
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000848077</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM HIGH YIELD MUNICIPAL TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pym</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001192343</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KENNAN ELIZABETH T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NORTHEAST UTILTIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>107 SELDEN STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BERLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06037</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>201.315</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.55</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Effective date of merger of issuer into Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Issuer (PYM) merged into Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust (PMM), a closed-end investment company, on February 19, 2008. All outstanding PYM common shares were exchanged for common shares of PMM based on the respective per-share net asset values of each fund's common shares calculated as of February 15, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Per-share net asset value of PYM common shares as of February 15, 2008. Reflects rounding.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Issuer (PYM) merged into Putnam Managed Municipal Income Trust (PMM), a closed-end investment company, on February 19, 2008. All outstanding PYM common shares were exchanged for common shares of PMM based on the respective per-share net asset values of each fund's common shares calculated as of February 15, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Elizabeth T. Kennan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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