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: 811-2684 |
T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Income Fund, Inc. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) |
100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
David Oestreicher |
100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 |
(Name and address of agent for service) |
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (410) 345-2000 |
Date of fiscal year end: February 28 |
Date of reporting period: August 31, 2008 |
Item 1: Report to Shareholders
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Tax-Free Income Fund | August 31, 2008 |
The views and opinions in this report were current as of August 31, 2008. They are not guarantees of performance or investment results and should not be taken as investment advice. Investment decisions reflect a variety of factors, and the managers reserve the right to change their views about individual stocks, sectors, and the markets at any time. As a result, the views expressed should not be relied upon as a forecast of the fund’s future investment intent. The report is certified under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which requires mutual funds and other public companies to affirm that, to the best of their knowledge, the information in their financial reports is fairly and accurately stated in all material respects.
REPORTS ON THE WEB
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Managers’ Letter
Fellow Shareholders
Tax-free municipal securities produced strong gains in the six-month period ended August 31, 2008, rebounding sharply from deeply oversold levels at the end of February. Investors favored higher-quality and shorter-term issues due to lingering concerns about liquidity in some segments of the fixed-income market. The Federal Reserve reduced short-term interest rates through the end of April to ease the effects of the credit crunch on the economy, but rising inflation pressures have discouraged additional rate cuts since that time. The T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Funds produced excellent six-month returns and generally outperformed their peers, largely on the strength of our rigorous, proprietary research.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Municipal securities rebounded strongly from oversold levels during the past six months, resulting in good returns for investors in tax-exempt securities.
• The funds’ returns were strong and compared favorably with those of our Lipper benchmarks, thanks to our avoidance of troublesome segments of the market and our cautious posture in a challenging environment.
• The overall credit quality of the market remains high, but the allocation of the highest-rated bonds has trended lower because of ongoing problems in the financial markets.
• We will continue to monitor developments affecting the municipal market carefully in an attempt to identify securities with attractive yields and a good long-term risk/reward trade-off.
MARKET ENVIRONMENT
According to current estimates, the economy grew at a surprisingly strong annualized rate of 3.3% in the second quarter, helped by brisk export activity and tax-rebate checks from the federal government. However, economic growth is expected to be sluggish for at least the rest of the year because of residential real estate weakness, massive mortgage losses in the financials sector, declining employment, and elevated energy costs.
As financial institutions cut back on lending to preserve capital and avoid additional loan-related losses, the Federal Reserve took several extraordinary actions to boost market liquidity—such as helping J.P. Morgan Chase acquire Bear Stearns and creating new credit facilities that allow investment banks and broker-dealers to borrow directly from the Fed. The central bank also reduced the fed funds target rate—an interbank lending rate—to 2.00% by the end of April 2008 from 5.25% one year ago. Although the economic outlook remains weak, the Fed has refrained from cutting rates since the end of April due to concerns about rising inflation.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0000202927-08-000010/srtffx4x1.jpg)
As shown in the graph, yields of high-quality municipal securities with various maturities declined materially in the last six months. This reflects increased investor interest in tax-free securities following a sharp sell-off in February stemming from concerns about the dysfunctional auction-rate securities market and the credit rating downgrades of monoline insurance companies that back municipal bonds. In contrast, intermediate-term Treasury yields rose substantially, as the credit-related flight to quality reversed somewhat and investors concluded that additional Fed rate cuts were unlikely.
Despite the improved performance in municipal bonds in the last six months, tax-free securities remain an attractive alternative to taxable bonds, particularly for investors in the highest tax brackets. As of August 31, 2008, the 3.60% yield offered by a 10-year, tax-free municipal bond rated AAA was about 94% of the 3.81% pretax yield offered by a 10-year Treasury. In comparison, high-quality 10-year municipal bonds have provided an average of about 81% of the yield offered by 10-year Treasuries since the mid-1980s. Similarly, 30-year AAA municipal bonds are also attractive, with a 4.71% yield that is about 106% of the 4.42% yield offered by 30-year Treasuries.
Based on current valuations, our belief is that the municipal bond market remains a high-quality market. Given the growing likelihood that federal tax rates will rise in the next few years, we believe that investors who are seeking tax-free income and are willing to accept the potential for near-term volatility—as the market continues to work through the ripple effects of the credit crunch—should consider taking advantage of what still appears to be a good buying opportunity for munis.
MUNICIPAL MARKET NEWS
New municipal supply thus far in 2008 has grown at a steady clip—about $294 billion through the end of August, according to The Bond Buyer. New issue supply has been lifted by issuers refinancing their auction-rate securities to avoid paying punitive penalty rates of interest when auctions fail. With state economies and revenue growth weakening—though current conditions are not as bad as they were in previous recessions—new issuance is likely to surpass the $400 billion mark again for the full year.
Demand for municipals has been reasonable, though not robust, as alternative buyers of municipals—such as hedge funds and foreign investors—have decreased their presence in the market, and broker-dealers remain hesitant to add tax-free bonds to their inventories. Individual investors have shown some interest in taking advantage of attractive tax-free yields, but their ability to absorb heavy new municipal issuance is limited. Given the continuing credit market stress, shorter-term and higher-quality municipal securities have had greater appeal than long-term and lower-quality issues.
The well-publicized and ongoing financial problems suffered by monoline insurance companies have had a material effect on the quality composition of the municipal market. In aggregate, the overall credit quality of the market remains high, but the actual allocation of the highest-rated bonds has trended lower. Many bonds that were once rated AAA because they were insured have been downgraded, and investors are assigning virtually no value to the underlying insurance. Our funds have managed to avoid significant losses stemming from these developments because we conduct our own thorough research and assign our own independent credit ratings before making investment decisions, rather than relying solely on external rating agencies or bond insurance for our investment selection.
PORTFOLIO STRATEGY
TAX-EXEMPT MONEY FUND
The fund outpaced the average return of competitor funds during the six-month period ended August 31, 2008, with a return of 0.90% compared with 0.75% for the Lipper Tax-Exempt Money Market Funds Average.
The aftershocks of the credit crisis continued to be felt in the municipal money market since our last update six months ago. The market has changed in dramatic fashion since the crisis began more than a year ago. Most significantly, the virtual collapse of the monoline insurers as viable guarantors within the money market resulted in a large amount of outstanding debt becoming no longer appropriate for money fund investment. Investors moved quickly to shed their portfolios of any debt carrying a “tainted” insurer. Losses and liquidity constraints on Wall Street have resulted in a sharp cutback in sponsorship for the tender option bond trade, previously a significant source of variable-rate supply. Finally, the meltdown of the auction-rate market and its slow workout has introduced another variable to the overall money market picture.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0000202927-08-000010/srtffx6x1.jpg)
These changes, coming in such rapid fashion, along with further Federal Reserve rate cuts and ongoing liquidity and credit concerns, have introduced a degree of rate volatility into the municipal money market not seen in many years. Yields on variable-rate debt experienced the largest swings, with a range over the past six months from a low of 1.37% to a high of 3.70%. Other parts of the yield curve moved in similar fashion; 90-day commercial paper yields swung from a low of 1.30% to a high of 2.35%, while one-year note yields ranged from 1.54% to 2.28%. We ended the period with most rates near the low end of their six-month ranges. Relative to comparable taxable investments, our yield curve is offering lower-than-expected rates as investors continue to show a strong preference for the safety of the money markets, which has boosted demand for so-called “clean” investments.
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Our strategy over the past six months was decidedly defensive. Given the extreme volatility of the market, a rapidly moving credit environment, and the supply dislocations affecting yields across our curve, we felt that an overweight position in variable-rate demand notes provided the best investment opportunity. Despite the defensive nature of our strategy, it proved to offer the best yields to investors. The average yield on seven-day variable-rate notes for the six-month period was 2.16%. Variable-rate notes ended the period as the highest-yielding portion of our yield curve at 1.85%. Currently, about 85% of the portfolio is invested in seven-day demand variables. This has resulted in the weighted average maturity of the fund moving significantly shorter—ending the period at 20 days.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0000202927-08-000010/srtffx7x1.jpg)
TAX-FREE SHORT-INTERMEDIATE FUND
The fund returned 2.79% over the past six months compared with 2.61% for the Lipper Short-Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average, which measures the performance of competing funds.
Before the period got under way, we had maintained a fairly aggressive posture on the portfolio’s duration compared with our competition (duration measures a fund’s sensitivity to interest rates; see the glossary for a more detailed explanation). Our earlier goal had been to maintain a longer duration than that of the benchmark. During the past six months, however, we shortened duration as the yield curve steepened, ending the period at 2.9 years, which was down from 3.2 years at the end of February.
We adopted a so-called “barbell” strategy, emphasizing securities with very short maturities and securities with 10-year maturities, while simultaneously cutting back on the three- to seven-year segment of the yield curve. Intermediate maturities looked very appealing back in March, but, as the period progressed, they became more fully valued as investor demand for them increased.
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One of our major goals as interest rates declined was to increase the fund’s income and yield. Toward that end, we increased our exposure considerably to health care bonds and other sectors that offered higher yields. At the end of February, our allocation to hospital revenue bonds was 8.4% compared with 15.8% at the end of August. The reverse was true for prerefunded bonds, where we reduced portfolio exposure from 18.4% to 13.7% during the past six months.
We have adopted a more cautious stance vis-à-vis our exposure to states we consider more economically sensitive than others. As a result, we have begun to reduce our holdings in such states as California and New York. As mentioned earlier in this report, the financial problems afflicting monoline insurers have had an impact on the quality composition of the general municipal market and individual funds—although our overall credit quality remains high.
TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
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Considering the challenging environment of the past six months, we are pleased to report that your fund returned 4.63%, which compared favorably with the 4.19% return for the Lipper General Municipal Debt Funds Average, a benchmark measuring the performance of similar funds. (Performance for the Advisor Class was slightly lower, reflecting its higher expenses, but was still above the Lipper average.)
As discussed earlier, the municipal market bounced back after an earlier downturn, as investors recognized value in the yields of high-quality municipal bonds, which rose above the yields of taxable Treasuries. The fund, as well as the municipal market overall, experienced a significant change in quality diversification resulting from multiple downgrades of the monoline insurers and the loss of their AAA ratings. As we mentioned in our last report, the fund’s overall exposure to insured bonds was significantly lower than that of the general market; nevertheless, the portfolio’s component of AAA securities fell from 37% to 17% as most of our insured holdings slipped into the AA and A sectors. In most cases, the insured rating was replaced by the rating for the underlying issuer. While the quality of these insurers has declined, the recent downgrades do not necessarily reflect deterioration in the credit quality of the underlying issuers of our holdings. Moody’s Investors Service is in the process of recalibrating its municipal bond ratings scale to more closely align with its global scale, a move that should lead to upward rating revisions for most municipal sectors over the next six months. Moody’s expects to complete this recalibration by early 2009. Notwithstanding these changes at Moody’s, T. Rowe Price continues to independently evaluate the credit quality of the underlying borrowers.
In light of the recent volatility, trading volume in the fund remained heavy. We continued to undertake loss swaps, which involve selling bonds at a loss and simultaneously reinvesting in higher coupons to improve income distribution. Recognizing losses allowed us to offset taxable gains that would otherwise be distributed.
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We made changes in the portfolio’s diversification and yield curve distribution as we took advantage of appealing valuations, particularly for bonds with longer maturities when the municipal yield curve steepened. We sold shorter-term, high-quality securities, prerefunded bonds in particular, and reinvested in bonds with maturities greater than 20 years. We raised our exposure to hospital and essential revenue bonds, including those in the water and sewer sector.
Earlier weakness in long-term bonds set the stage for the recent rebound, with bonds maturing in 15 or more years significantly outperforming shorter-term securities. High-quality, long-duration, zero coupon, and noncallable bonds performed best during the past six months. Lower-rated project finance and industrial development revenue/pollution control revenue holdings were among the laggards.
TAX-FREE HIGH YIELD FUND
In what was a very challenging environment for both high-grade and high-yield municipal bonds, the Tax-Free High Yield Fund returned 3.46% over the past six months compared with 2.43% for the Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average, which measures the performance of similar funds. The fund was well positioned at the outset of the credit crisis that began in mid-2007. Risk premiums in the medium- and lower-quality areas of the municipal market adjusted considerably higher over the last year, following trends in other fixed-income markets.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0000202927-08-000010/srtffx11x1.jpg)
We increased our holdings in hospital revenue bonds during the period. A heavy supply of new issues, driven by auction-rate refinancing activity, stretched valuations to levels not seen since the late 1990s, while little has changed in the fundamental backdrop for the sector. Hospital bonds issued in wealthy high-tax states, such as California, Virginia, and Maryland, performed particularly well as investor demand remained firm.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0000202927-08-000010/srtffx11x2.jpg)
Other areas where we increased our holdings included corporate-backed industrial development and pollution control revenue bonds, most notably in the utilities sector. Given the difficult economic backdrop, we believe this sector offers attractive tax-exempt yields while minimizing cyclical risks. We remained significantly underexposed to airline-backed bonds versus our peers, as surging oil prices wreaked havoc on the sector. Our disciplined avoidance of this sector contributed to the fund’s good relative performance.
We also reduced our exposure to prerefunded bonds. These highly rated, intermediate-maturity securities performed quite well over the past year as the yield curve steepened and investors sought the safety of AAA rated bonds. In many cases, these bonds are yielding between 2% and 3% and offer little additional total return potential. Consequently, we have been using the proceeds to buy higher-yielding bonds across many sectors.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0000202927-08-000010/srtffx12x1.jpg)
Single-family housing bonds also looked attractive. These conservatively managed, highly rated state agencies provide loans to qualified homebuyers. Unlike government-sponsored enterprise agencies, these entities do not employ leverage and are mission- rather than profit-driven. The recent housing bill, signed by President Bush, expanded the role of state housing agencies in providing aid to the ailing housing market. As a result, the market has been absorbing a significant supply of non-AMT housing bonds at historically attractive levels.
Challenges remain across many fixed-income markets, including municipals. Heavy supply from auction-rate issuers, diminished demand from nontraditional buyers, and continued adjustment to a less-insured marketplace have put pressure on the value of municipal securities—particularly medium- and lower-quality bonds. These periods of uncertainty and volatility are great reminders of the value of independent, fundamental research.
OUTLOOK
In light of generally favorable fundamentals for the municipal bond market, tax-free bonds continue to offer very compelling values relative to taxable bonds, in our view—particularly for investors in the highest tax brackets. Although the market has rebounded from its weakest levels in late February, municipal bond valuations, especially for longer-term securities, remain very attractive.
At present, the Fed seems unlikely to initiate a series of rate hikes to address inflation as long as the economy and housing market remain weak and employment is decreasing. However, if inflation concerns resurface, Treasury yields will probably rise, and the Federal Reserve may be forced at some point to raise interest rates. Although municipal yields tend not to rise as much as Treasury yields, the municipal bond market would not be immune to a broad sell-off in the Treasury market.
T. Rowe Price’s municipal bond portfolio managers and credit analysts continue to monitor the municipal market very carefully in an attempt to identify securities with attractive yields and a good long-term risk/reward trade-off. As always, we will rely on our rigorous, independent research to evaluate the fundamental merits of the underlying issuer of each security under consideration.
Thank you for investing with T. Rowe Price.
Respectfully submitted,
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Joseph K. Lynagh
Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee
Tax-Exempt Money Fund
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Charles B. Hill
Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee
Tax-Free Short-Intermediate Fund
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Konstantine B. Mallas and Mary J. Miller
Cochairs of the Investment Advisory Committee
Tax-Free Income Fund
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James M. Murphy
Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee
Tax-Free High Yield Fund
September 19, 2008
The committee chairmen have day-to-day responsibility for managing the portfolios and work with committee members in developing and executing the funds’ investment programs.
RISKS OF FIXED-INCOME INVESTING
Since money market funds are managed to maintain a constant $1.00 share price, there should be little risk of principal loss. However, there is no assurance the fund will avoid principal losses if fund holdings default or are downgraded, or if interest rates rise sharply in an unusually short period. In addition, the fund’s yield will vary; it is not fixed for a specific period like the yield on a bank certificate of deposit. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. Although a money market fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in it.
Bonds are subject to interest rate risk (the decline in bond prices that usually accompanies a rise in interest rates) and credit risk (the chance that any fund holding could have its credit rating downgraded or that a bond issuer will default by failing to make timely payments of interest or principal), potentially reducing the fund’s income level and share price. High-yield bonds could have greater price declines than funds that invest primarily in high-quality bonds. Municipalities issuing high-yield bonds are not as strong financially as those with higher credit ratings, so the bonds are usually considered speculative investments. Some income may be subject to state and local taxes and the federal alternative minimum tax.
GLOSSARY
Auction-rate securities (ARS): A type of security used in municipal financing. Although these securities have long-term maturities, their interest rates are reset every seven, 25, or 35 days through an auction process.
Average maturity: For a bond fund, the average of the stated maturity dates of the portfolio’s securities. In general, the longer the average maturity, the greater the fund’s sensitivity to interest rate changes, which means greater price fluctuation. A shorter average maturity usually means a less sensitive and, consequently, less volatile portfolio.
Basis points: One hundred basis points equal one percentage point.
Duration: A measure of a bond fund’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates. For example, a fund with a duration of six years would fall about 6% in price in response to a one-percentage-point rise in interest rates, and vice versa.
Fed funds target rate: An overnight lending rate set by the Federal Reserve and used by banks to meet reserve requirements. Banks also use the fed funds rate as a benchmark for their prime lending rates.
Lehman Brothers Municipal Bond Index: An unmanaged index that includes investment-grade, tax-exempt, and fixed-rate bonds with maturities greater than two years selected from issues larger than $75 million.
Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Index: An unmanaged index made up of the Lehman Brothers Government/Corporate Bond Index, Mortgage-Backed Securities Index, and Asset-Backed Securities Index, including securities of investment-grade quality or better with at least one year to maturity and an outstanding par value of at least $250 million.
Libor rate: The London Interbank Offered Rate, which is a benchmark for short-term taxable rates.
Lipper averages: The averages of available mutual fund performance returns for specified time periods in defined categories as tracked by Lipper Inc.
Tender option bonds: Obligations that grant the bondholder the right to require the issuer, or a specified third party acting as agent for the issuer, to purchase the bonds, usually at par, at a specified time prior to maturity or upon the occurrence of certain events or conditions.
30-day SEC yield: A method of calculating a fund’s yield that assumes all portfolio securities are held until maturity. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) requires all bond funds to calculate this yield. Yield will vary and is not guaranteed.
Yield curve: A graphic depiction of the relationship among the yields for similar bonds with different maturities. A yield curve is positive when short-term yields are lower than long-term yields and negative when short-term yields are higher than long-term yields.
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Performance and Expenses
GROWTH OF $10,000 |
This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the fund over the past 10 fiscal year periods or since inception (for funds lacking 10-year records). The result is compared with benchmarks, which may include a broad-based market index and a peer group average or index. Market indexes do not include expenses, which are deducted from fund returns as well as mutual fund averages and indexes.
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GROWTH OF $10,000 |
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AVERAGE ANNUAL COMPOUND TOTAL RETURN |
This table shows how the funds would have performed each year if their actual (or cumulative) returns for the periods shown had been earned at a constant rate.
FUND EXPENSE EXAMPLE |
As a mutual fund shareholder, you may incur two types of costs: (1) transaction costs, such as redemption fees or sales loads, and (2) ongoing costs, including management fees, distribution and service (12b-1) fees, and other fund expenses. The following example is intended to help you understand your ongoing costs (in dollars) of investing in the fund and to compare these costs with the ongoing costs of investing in other mutual funds. The example is based on an investment of $1,000 invested at the beginning of the most recent six-month period and held for the entire period.
Actual Expenses
The first line of the following table (“Actual”) provides information about actual account values and actual expenses. You may use the information in this line, together with your account balance, to estimate the expenses that you paid over the period. Simply divide your account value by $1,000 (for example, an $8,600 account value divided by $1,000 = 8.6), then multiply the result by the number in the first line under the heading “Expenses Paid During Period” to estimate the expenses you paid on your account during this period.
Please note that the Tax-Free Income Fund has two share classes: The original share class (“investor class”) charges no distribution and service (12b-1) fee, and the Advisor Class shares are offered only through unaffiliated brokers and other financial intermediaries and charge a 0.25% 12b-1 fee. Each share class is presented separately in the table.
Hypothetical Example for Comparison Purposes
The information on the second line of the table (“Hypothetical”) is based on hypothetical account values and expenses derived from the fund’s actual expense ratio and an assumed 5% per year rate of return before expenses (not the fund’s actual return). You may compare the ongoing costs of investing in the fund with other funds by contrasting this 5% hypothetical example and the 5% hypothetical examples that appear in the shareholder reports of the other funds. The hypothetical account values and expenses may not be used to estimate the actual ending account balance or expenses you paid for the period.
Note: T. Rowe Price charges an annual small-account maintenance fee of $10, generally for accounts with less than $2,000 ($500 for UGMA/UTMA). The fee is waived for any investor whose T. Rowe Price mutual fund accounts total $25,000 or more, accounts employing automatic investing, and IRAs and other retirement plan accounts that utilize a prototype plan sponsored by T. Rowe Price (although a separate custodial or administrative fee may apply to such accounts). This fee is not included in the accompanying table. If you are subject to the fee, keep it in mind when you are estimating the ongoing expenses of investing in the fund and when comparing the expenses of this fund with other funds.
You should also be aware that the expenses shown in the table highlight only your ongoing costs and do not reflect any transaction costs, such as redemption fees or sales loads. Therefore, the second line of the table is useful in comparing ongoing costs only and will not help you determine the relative total costs of owning different funds. To the extent a fund charges transaction costs, however, the total cost of owning that fund is higher.
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Unaudited
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0000202927-08-000010/srtfix27x1.jpg)
![](https://capedge.com/proxy/N-CSRS/0000202927-08-000010/srtfix27x2.jpg)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
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The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Unaudited
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Income Fund, Inc. (the fund), is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as a diversified, open-end management investment company. The fund seeks to provide a high level of income exempt from federal income taxes by investing primarily in long-term investment-grade municipal securities. The fund has two classes of shares: the Tax-Free Income Fund original share class, referred to in this report as the Investor Class, offered since October 26, 1976, and Tax-Free Income Fund—Advisor Class (Advisor Class), offered since September 30, 2002. Advisor Class shares are sold only through unaffiliated brokers and other unaffiliated financial intermediaries that are compensated by the class for distribution, shareholder servicing, and/or certain administrative services under a Board-approved Rule 12b-1 plan. Each class has exclusive voting rights on matters related solely to that class, separate voting rights on matters that relate to both classes, and, in all other respects, the same rights and obligations as the other class.
NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Preparation The accompanying financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require the use of estimates made by fund management. Fund management believes that estimates and security valuations are appropriate; however, actual results may differ from those estimates, and the security valuations reflected in the financial statements may differ from the value the fund ultimately realizes upon sale of the securities.
Investment Transactions, Investment Income, and Distributions Income and expenses are recorded on the accrual basis. Premiums and discounts on debt securities are amortized for financial reporting purposes. Income tax-related interest and penalties, if incurred, would be recorded as income tax expense. Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date. Realized gains and losses are reported on the identified cost basis. Payments (“variation margin”) made or received to settle the daily fluctuations in the value of futures contracts are recorded as unrealized gains or losses until the contracts are closed. Unsettled variation margin on futures contracts is reflected as other assets or liabilities, and unrealized gains and losses on futures contracts are reflected as the change in net unrealized gain or loss in the accompanying financial statements. Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Income distributions are declared by each class on a daily basis and paid monthly. Capital gain distributions, if any, are declared and paid by the fund, typically on an annual basis.
Class Accounting The Advisor Class pays distribution, shareholder servicing, and/or certain administrative expenses in the form of Rule 12b-1 fees, in an amount not exceeding 0.25% of the class’s average daily net assets. Shareholder servicing, prospectus, and shareholder report expenses incurred by each class are charged directly to the class to which they relate. Expenses common to both classes and investment income are allocated to the classes based upon the relative daily net assets of each class’s settled shares; realized and unrealized gains and losses are allocated based upon the relative daily net assets of each class’s outstanding shares.
Credits The fund earns credits on temporarily uninvested cash balances at the custodian that reduce the fund’s custody charges. Custody expense in the accompanying financial statements is presented before reduction for credits, which are reflected as expenses paid indirectly.
New Accounting Pronouncement On March 1, 2008, the fund adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157 (FAS 157), Fair Value Measurements. FAS 157 defines fair value, establishes the framework for measuring fair value, and expands the disclosures of fair value measurements in the financial statements. Adoption of FAS 157 did not have a material impact on the fund’s net assets or results of operations.
In March 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (“FAS 161”), which is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. FAS 161 requires enhanced disclosures about derivative and hedging activities, including how such activities are accounted for and their effect on financial position, performance and cash flows. Management is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of FAS 161 will have on the fund’s financial statements and related disclosures.
NOTE 2 - VALUATION
The fund’s investments are reported at fair value as defined under FAS 157. The fund values its investments and computes its net asset value per share at the close of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally 4 p.m. ET, each day that the NYSE is open for business.
Valuation Methods Debt securities are generally traded in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. Securities with remaining maturities of one year or more at the time of acquisition are valued at prices furnished by dealers who make markets in such securities or by an independent pricing service, which considers the yield or price of bonds of comparable quality, coupon, maturity, and type, as well as prices quoted by dealers who make markets in such securities. Securities with remaining maturities of less than one year at the time of acquisition generally use amortized cost in local currency to approximate fair value. However, if amortized cost is deemed not to reflect fair value or the fund holds a significant amount of such securities with remaining maturities of more than 60 days, the securities are valued at prices furnished by dealers who make markets in such securities or by an independent pricing service.
Financial futures contracts are valued at closing settlement prices.
Other investments, including restricted securities, and those for which the above valuation procedures are inappropriate or are deemed not to reflect fair value are stated at fair value as determined in good faith by the T. Rowe Price Valuation Committee, established by the fund’s Board of Directors.
Valuation Inputs Various inputs are used to determine the value of the fund’s investments. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical securities
Level 2 – observable inputs other than Level 1 quoted prices (including, but not limited to, quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk)
Level 3 – unobservable inputs
Observable inputs are those based on market data obtained from sources independent of the fund, and unobservable inputs reflect the fund’s own assumptions based on the best information available. The input levels are not necessarily an indication of the risk or liquidity associated with investments at that level. The following table summarizes the fund’s investments, based on the inputs used to determine their values on August 31, 2008:
NOTE 3 - INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS
Consistent with its investment objective, the fund engages in the following practices to manage exposure to certain risks or to enhance performance. The investment objective, policies, program, and risk factors of the fund are described more fully in the fund’s prospectus and Statement of Additional Information.
Restricted Securities The fund may invest in securities that are subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale. Prompt sale of such securities at an acceptable price may be difficult and may involve substantial delays and additional costs.
Futures Contracts During the six months ended August 31, 2008, the fund was a party to futures contracts, which provide for the future sale by one party and purchase by another of a specified amount of a specific financial instrument at an agreed upon price, date, time, and place. Risks arise from possible illiquidity of the futures market and from movements in security values and/or interest rates.
Other Purchases and sales of portfolio securities, other than short-term securities, aggregated $368,024,000 and $339,080,000, respectively, for the six months ended August 31, 2008.
NOTE 4 - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES
No provision for federal income taxes is required since the fund intends to continue to qualify as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code and distribute to shareholders all of its income and gains. Distributions are determined in accordance with Federal income tax regulations, which differ from generally accepted accounting principles, and, therefore, may differ in amount or character from net investment income and realized gains for financial reporting purposes. Financial reporting records are adjusted for permanent book/tax differences to reflect tax character but are not adjusted for temporary differences. The amount and character of tax-basis distributions and composition of net assets are finalized at fiscal year-end; accordingly, tax-basis balances have not been determined as of August 31, 2008.
The fund intends to retain realized gains to the extent of available capital loss carryforwards. As of February 29, 2008, the fund had $4,301,000 of unused capital loss carryforwards, all of which expire in fiscal 2016.
At August 31, 2008, the cost of investments for federal income tax purposes was $1,827,674,000. Net unrealized gain aggregated $44,423,000 at period-end, of which $76,500,000 related to appreciated investments and $32,077,000 related to depreciated investments.
NOTE 5 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The fund is managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (the manager or Price Associates), a wholly owned subsidiary of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. The investment management agreement between the fund and the manager provides for an annual investment management fee, which is computed daily and paid monthly. The fee consists of an individual fund fee, equal to 0.15% of the fund’s average daily net assets, and a group fee. The group fee rate is calculated based on the combined net assets of certain mutual funds sponsored by Price Associates (the group) applied to a graduated fee schedule, with rates ranging from 0.48% for the first $1 billion of assets to 0.285% for assets in excess of $220 billion. The fund’s group fee is determined by applying the group fee rate to the fund’s average daily net assets. At August 31, 2008, the effective annual group fee rate was 0.30%.
In addition, the fund has entered into service agreements with Price Associates and a wholly owned subsidiary of Price Associates (collectively, Price). Price Associates computes the daily share prices and provides certain other administrative services to the fund. T. Rowe Price Services, Inc., provides shareholder and administrative services in its capacity as the fund’s transfer and dividend disbursing agent. For the six months ended August 31, 2008, expenses incurred pursuant to these service agreements were $93,000 for Price Associates and $238,000 for T. Rowe Price Services, Inc. The total amount payable at period-end pursuant to these service agreements is reflected as Due to Affiliates in the accompanying financial statements.
INFORMATION ON PROXY VOTING POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND RECORDS |
A description of the policies and procedures used by T. Rowe Price funds and portfolios to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities is available in each fund’s Statement of Additional Information, which you may request by calling 1-800-225-5132 or by accessing the SEC’s Web site, www.sec.gov. The description of our proxy voting policies and procedures is also available on our Web site, www.troweprice.com. To access it, click on the words “Company Info” at the top of our homepage for individual investors. Then, in the window that appears, click on the “Proxy Voting Policy” navigation button in the top left corner.
Each fund’s most recent annual proxy voting record is available on our Web site and through the SEC’s Web site. To access it through our Web site, follow the directions above, then click on the words “Proxy Voting Record” at the bottom of the Proxy Voting Policy page.
HOW TO OBTAIN QUARTERLY PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS |
The fund files a complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the first and third quarters of each fiscal year on Form N-Q. The fund’s Form N-Q is available electronically on the SEC’s Web site (www.sec.gov); hard copies may be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 450 Fifth St. N.W., Washington, DC 20549. For more information on the Public Reference Room, call1-800-SEC-0330.
APPROVAL OF INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT |
On March 4, 2008, the fund’s Board of Directors (Board) unanimously approved the investment advisory contract (Contract) between the fund and its investment manager, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (Manager). The Board considered a variety of factors in connection with its review of the Contract, also taking into account information provided by the Manager during the course of the year, as discussed below:
Services Provided by the Manager
The Board considered the nature, quality, and extent of the services provided to the fund by the Manager. These services included, but were not limited to, management of the fund’s portfolio and a variety of related activities, as well as financial and administrative services, reporting, and communications. The Board also reviewed the background and experience of the Manager’s senior management team and investment personnel involved in the management of the fund. The Board concluded that it was satisfied with the nature, quality, and extent of the services provided by the Manager.
Investment Performance of the Fund
The Board reviewed the fund’s average annual total return over the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods as well as the fund’s year-by-year returns and compared these returns with previously agreed upon comparable performance measures and market data, including those supplied by Lipper and Morningstar, which are independent providers of mutual fund data. On the basis of this evaluation and the Board’s ongoing review of investment results, the Board concluded that the fund’s performance was satisfactory.
Costs, Benefits, Profits, and Economies of Scale
The Board reviewed detailed information regarding the revenues received by the Manager under the Contract and other benefits that the Manager (and its affiliates) may have realized from its relationship with the fund, including research received under “soft dollar” agreements. The Board noted that soft dollars were not used to pay for third-party, non-broker research. The Board also received information on the estimated costs incurred and profits realized by the Manager and its affiliates from advising T. Rowe Price mutual funds, as well as estimates of the gross profits realized from managing the fund in particular. The Board concluded that the Manager’s profits were reasonable in light of the services provided to the fund. The Board also considered whether the fund or other funds benefit under the fee levels set forth in the Contract from any economies of scale realized by the Manager. Under the Contract, the fund pays a fee to the Manager composed of two components—a group fee rate based on the aggregate assets of certain T. Rowe Price mutual funds (including the fund) that declines at certain asset levels and an individual fund fee rate that is assessed on the assets of the fund. The Board concluded that the advisory fee structure for the fund continued to provide for a reasonable sharing of benefits from economies of scale with the fund’s investors.
Fees
The Board reviewed the fund’s management fee rate, operating expenses, and total expense ratio (for the Investor Class and the Advisor Class) and compared them with fees andexpenses of other comparable funds based on information and data supplied by Lipper. The information provided to the Board indicated that the fund’s management fee rate was above the median for certain groups of comparable funds but at or below the median for other groups of comparable funds. The information also indicated that the fund’s expense ratio for the Investor Class was above the median for certain groups of comparable funds but below the median for other groups of comparable funds, and that the fund’s expense ratio for the Advisor Class was at or below the median for comparable funds. The Board also reviewed the fee schedules for comparable privately managed accounts of the Manager and its affiliates. Management informed the Board that the Manager’s responsibilities for privately managed acc ounts are more limited than its responsibilities for the fund and other T. Rowe Price mutual funds that it or its affiliates advise. On the basis of the information provided, the Board concluded that the fees paid by the fund under the Contract were reasonable.
Approval of the Contract
As noted, the Board approved the continuation of the Contract. No single factor was considered in isolation or to be determinative to the decision. Rather, the Board concluded, in light of a weighting and balancing of all factors considered, that it was in the best interests of the fund to approve the continuation of the Contract, including the fees to be charged for services thereunder.
Item 2. Code of Ethics.
A code of ethics, as defined in Item 2 of Form N-CSR, applicable to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions is filed as an exhibit to the registrant’s annual Form N-CSR. No substantive amendments were approved or waivers were granted to this code of ethics during the registrant’s most recent fiscal half-year.
Item 3. Audit Committee Financial Expert.
Disclosure required in registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
Item 4. Principal Accountant Fees and Services.
Disclosure required in registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
Item 5. Audit Committee of Listed Registrants.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Investments.
(a) Not applicable. The complete schedule of investments is included in Item 1 of this Form N-CSR.
(b) Not applicable.
Item 7. Disclosure of Proxy Voting Policies and Procedures for Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Portfolio Managers of Closed-End Management Investment Companies.
Not applicable.
Item 9. Purchases of Equity Securities by Closed-End Management Investment Company 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 evaluated the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures within 90 days of this filing and have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, as of that date, in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the registrant in this Form N-CSR was recorded, processed, summarized, and reported timely.
(b) The registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer are aware of no change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s second fiscal quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
Item 12. Exhibits.
(a)(1) The registrant’s code of ethics pursuant to Item 2 of Form N-CSR is filed with the registrant’s annual Form N-CSR.
(2) Separate certifications by the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.
(3) Written solicitation to repurchase securities issued by closed-end companies: not applicable.
(b) A certification by the registrant's principal executive officer and principal financial officer, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, is attached.
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. | |
T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Income Fund, Inc. | |
By | /s/ Edward C. Bernard |
Edward C. Bernard | |
Principal Executive Officer | |
Date | October 17, 2008 |
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 | /s/ Edward C. Bernard |
Edward C. Bernard | |
Principal Executive Officer | |
Date | October 17, 2008 |
By | /s/ Gregory K. Hinkle |
Gregory K. Hinkle | |
Principal Financial Officer | |
Date | October 17, 2008 |