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0000353316FRANKLIN TAX EXEMPT MONEY FUND485BPOS2012-11-272012-12-012012-07-31false2012-12-01~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/RiskReturnDetail column period compact * row primary compact * ~Fund SummaryInvestment GoalTo provide investors with as high a level of income exempt from federal income taxes as is consistent with prudent investment management and the preservation of shareholders’ capital. The Fund also seeks liquidity in its investments and tries to maintain a stable $1.00 share price.Fees and Expenses of the FundThese tables describe the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ShareholderFeesData column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ftemf_S000006890Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~0.00<div><p>ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES</p><p>(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</p></div>~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/OperatingExpensesData column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ftemf_S000006890Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~0.00600.00230.0083ExampleThis Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of the period. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:852654601025~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/ExpenseExample column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ftemf_S000006890Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * ~Principal Investment StrategiesUnder normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that pay interest free from federal income taxes, including the federal alternative minimum tax.<div><p>Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in municipal securities that pay interest free from federal income taxes, including the federal alternative minimum tax. The Fund invests in high-quality, short-term, municipal securities. Although the Fund tries to invest all of its assets in tax-free securities, it is possible, although not anticipated, that up to 20% of its assets may be in securities that pay taxable interest, including interest that may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.</p><p><b>Portfolio maturity and quality</b> The Fund only buys securities that the investment manager determines present minimal credit risks. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of 60 days or less and maintains a dollar-weighted average life for its portfolio of 120 days or less, and only buys securities that:</p><p>mature in 397 calendar days or less, if such security is rated in the highest rating category by the requisite rating agencies, as described in applicable regulation; or</p><p>mature in 45 calendar days or less, if such security is rated in the second highest rating category by the requisite rating agencies, as described in applicable regulation.</p><p>A large portion or all of the Fund's portfolio securities may be invested in variable and floating rate securities, primarily variable rate demand notes, the interest rates of which change either at specific intervals or whenever a benchmark rate changes.</p></div>Principal RisksAlthough the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund<div><p>Mutual fund shares are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed or endorsed by, any bank, and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve Board, or any other agency of the U.S. government. Although the Fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund.</p><p>Interest Rate</p><p>When interest rates rise, security prices fall. The opposite is also true: security prices rise when interest rates fall. In general, securities with longer maturities are more sensitive to these price changes. The Fund’s yield will vary. A sharp and unexpected rise in interest rates could cause the Fund’s share price to drop below a dollar. A low interest rate environment may prevent the Fund from providing a positive yield or paying Fund expenses out of current income and could impair the Fund’s ability to maintain a stable net asset value.</p><p>Credit</p><p>An issuer of securities may be unable to make interest payments and repay principal. Failure of an issuer to make timely interest or principal payments, or a decline or perception of a decline in the credit quality of a security, can cause the security’s price to fall, potentially lowering the Fund’s share price. Although the Fund invests predominantly in high-quality debt securities, any of the Fund’s holdings could have its credit rating downgraded or could default. The credit quality of the securities held by the Fund can change rapidly in certain market environments, and the default of a single holding could have the potential to cause significant deterioration of the Fund’s net asset value.</p><p>A change in the credit rating of a municipal bond insurer that insures securities in the Fund’s portfolio may affect the value of the securities it insures, the Fund’s share price and Fund performance. The Fund might also be adversely impacted by the inability of an insurer to meet its insurance obligations.</p><p>Banking Industry</p><p>Because the Fund will invest in obligations for which banks and other financial institutions may provide liquidity guarantees or credit enhancements, it may be vulnerable to setbacks in that industry. Banks and other financial institutions are highly dependent on short-term interest rates and can be adversely affected by downturns in the U.S. and foreign economies or changes in banking regulations.</p><p>Tax-Exempt Securities</p><p>While the Fund endeavors to purchase only bona fide tax-exempt securities, there are risks that: (a) a security issued as tax-exempt may be reclassified as taxable by the Internal Revenue Service or a state tax authority, and/or (b) future legislative, administrative or court actions could adversely impact the qualification of income from a tax-exempt security as tax-free. Such reclassifications or actions could cause interest from a security to become taxable, possibly retroactively, subjecting you to increased tax liability.</p><p>Income</p><p>Since the Fund can only distribute what it earns, the Fund’s distributions to shareholders may decline when interest rates fall. Because the Fund limits its investments to high-quality, short-term securities, its portfolio generally will earn lower yields than a portfolio with lower-quality, longer-term securities subject to more risk.</p><p>Variable Rate Securities</p><p>Although investing in variable rate securities may help protect against a decline in the security's market price when interest rates rise, these investments lower the Fund's income when interest rates fall.</p><p>Liquidity</p><p>This is the risk that the Fund may make investments that may become less liquid in response to market developments or adverse investor perception. While the Fund endeavors to maintain a high level of liquidity in its portfolio, the liquidity of portfolio securities can deteriorate rapidly due to credit events affecting issuers or guarantors or due to general market conditions and a lack of willing buyers. When there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, the Fund may have to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the instrument at all. An inability to sell one or more portfolio positions can adversely affect the Fund’s ability to maintain a $1.00 share price or prevent the Fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities.</p><p>Liquidity risk may also refer to the risk that the Fund will not be able to pay redemption proceeds within a short period of time because of unusual market conditions, an unusually high volume of redemption requests or other reasons. If the Fund is forced to sell securities at an unfavorable time and/or under unfavorable conditions, such sales may adversely affect the Fund’s ability to maintain a $1.00 share price.</p><p>Market</p><p>The market values of securities owned by the Fund will go up or down, sometimes rapidly or unpredictably. A security’s market value may be reduced by market activity or other results of supply and demand unrelated to the issuer. This is a basic risk associated with all securities. When there are more sellers than buyers, prices tend to fall. Likewise, when there are more buyers than sellers, prices tend to rise.</p><p>Focus</p><p>The Fund may invest more than 25% of its assets in municipal securities that finance similar types of projects, such as utilities, hospitals, higher education, transportation and real estate. A change that affects one project, such as proposed legislation on the financing of the project, a shortage of the materials needed for the project, or a declining need for the project, would likely affect all similar projects, thereby increasing market risk.</p><p>U.S. Government Securities</p><p>Not all obligations of the U.S. Government, its agencies and instrumentalities are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States. Some obligations are backed only by the credit of the issuing agency or instrumentality, and in some cases there may be some risk of default by the issuer. Any guarantee by the U.S. Government or its agencies or instrumentalities of a security held by the Fund does not apply to the market value of such security or to shares of the Fund itself. A security backed by the U.S. Treasury or the full faith and credit of the United States is guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and principal when held to maturity.</p><p>Risk Associated with the Fund Holding Cash</p><p>Although the Fund seeks to be fully invested, it may at times hold some of its assets in cash, which may hurt the Fund's performance.</p><p>Management</p><p>The Fund is subject to management risk because it is an actively managed investment portfolio. The Fund's investment manager applies investment techniques and risk analyses in making investment decisions for the Fund, but there can be no guarantee that these decisions will produce the desired results.</p></div>PerformanceThe following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for shares of the Fund. The table shows the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicableThe Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.(800) DIAL BEN/342-5236franklintempleton.com<div><p>The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for shares of the Fund. The table shows the Fund's average annual returns for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years or since inception, as applicable. The Fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You can obtain updated performance information at franklintempleton.com or by calling (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.</p></div>ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS0.00800.00310.00460.01640.02700.02890.01340.00010.00000.0000~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/BarChartData column period compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ftemf_S000006890Member ~Best Quarter:2007-06-300.0073Worst Quarter:2011-12-310.0000As of September 30, 2012, the Fund's year-to-date return was 0.00%.<table style="font: 11px sans-serif; background-color:#DDDDDD" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5" width="745"><tr><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="top">Best Quarter:</td><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="bottom" align="right">Q2'07</td><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="bottom" align="right">0.73%</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="top">Worst Quarter:</td><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="bottom" align="right">Q4'11</td><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="bottom" align="right">0.00%</td></tr><tr><td style="border-bottom: 2px solid #ffffff;" valign="top" colspan="3">As of September 30, 2012, the Fund's year-to-date return was 0.00%.</td></tr></table><div><p>AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS</p><p>For the periods ended December 31, 2011</p></div>~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/PerformanceTableData column dei_LegalEntityAxis compact ftemf_S000006890Member column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * column rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~0.00000.00840.0101<div><p>To obtain the Fund’s current yield information, please call (800) DIAL BEN/342-5236.</p></div>