Municipal bonds can be taxable or tax-exempt. The latter are much more common. It can be smart to add these assets to a taxable portfolio because a portion or all of the income they generate can be exempt from taxes. Here’s what you need to know about municipal bonds, how they’re taxed, and how they compare to corporate bonds.
What Are Municipal Bond Funds?
In general, a bond is a debt obligation. You’re lending money to an entity, which promises to pay it back with interest. These may be corporations or government bodies. Municipal bonds, which are also called “munis,” are a subset of bonds issued by government municipalities or their agencies. These debt obligations are used to raise money to fund local projects. They help build schools, parks, and highways, for example. Municipal bond funds are mutual funds that invest mostly in municipal bonds.
How Are Municipal Bond Funds Taxed?
Municipal bond funds provide investors with interest that is exempt from federal income taxes. This income may also be exempt from state and local taxes if you reside in the issuing state or town. For instance, a New York City bond could be triple-tax-free. That means it could be exempt from federal, state, and local taxes if the investor lives and pays taxes in New York City. For this reason, municipal bond funds are often referred to as “tax-free” or “tax-exempt” investments.
Who Should Invest in Municipal Bond Funds?
Investors who should use municipal bond funds are mostly those who want to earn yields that are typically higher than those of money market funds. The tax-free income opportunities could be extra-attractive to those who may be in a high tax bracket and want to reduce their tax burden.
Determining Tax-Equivalent Yields
One way to help decide if a municipal bond fund is the right investment for you is known as the “tax-equivalent yield.” For instance, a taxable bond, such as a corporate bond that pays 5%, may at first seem more attractive to an investor who also has the option to buy a tax-free municipal bond that pays 4%. To more accurately tell which bond is best, the investor can calculate the tax-equivalent yield. The tax-equivalent yield is the pre-tax yield the taxable bond must pay to equal the tax-free municipal bond yield. The calculation is the tax-free municipal bond yield divided by one, minus the investor’s tax rate. Here’s the calculation for an investor in the 35% marginal tax bracket, if the municipal bond is paying 4%: This calculation reveals that the income tax savings of investing in the tax-free municipal bond are equivalent to a taxable bond earning 6.15%. If the taxable bond doesn’t offer at least a 6.15% yield, then the municipal bond is likely a better deal for those seeking the most income. Returning to the example scenario of choosing between a 4% muni bond and a 5% corporate bond, the bond investor may be wise to choose the tax-free municipal bond instead of the taxable corporate bond. The Balance does not provide tax, investment, or financial services and advice. The information is being presented without consideration of the investment objectives, risk tolerance, or financial circumstances of any specific investor and might not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.
