Exhibit (b)

                                 CERTIFICATIONS



                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Jimmy D. Gambill, Chief Executive Officer of the Franklin Federal Tax-Free
Income Fund. (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

      1.    The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
            ended 10/31/05 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Registrant.

Dated: December 19, 2005


                            /s/JIMMY D. GAMBILL
                            Chief Executive Officer - Finance and Administration







                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Galen G. Vetter, Chief Financial Officer of the Franklin Federal Tax-Free
Income Fund. (the "Registrant"), certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to my
knowledge:

      1.    The periodic report on Form N-CSR of the Registrant for the period
            ended 10/31/05 (the "Form N-CSR") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Form N-CSR fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Registrant.

Dated: December 19, 2005


                                    /s/GALEN G. VETTER
                                    Chief Financial Officer