485BPOS

SEC. File Nos.   333-168594

811-22448

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-1A

Registration Statement

Under

the Securities Act of 1933

Post-Effective Amendment No. 4

and

Registration Statement

Under

The Investment Company Act of 1940

Amendment No. 6

AMERICAN FUNDS TAX-EXEMPT FUND OF NEW YORK

(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in charter)

One Market

Steuart Tower, Suite 2000

San Francisco, California 94105-1409

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(415) 421-9360

COURTNEY R. TAYLOR, Secretary

American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York

333 South Hope Street

Los Angeles, California 90071

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copies to:

Michael Glazer

Bingham McCutchen LLP

355 South Grand Avenue, Suite 4400

Los Angeles, CA 90071-3106

(Counsel for the Registrant)

____________

Approximate date of proposed public offering:

It is proposed that this filing become effective immediately pursuant to paragraph (b) of rule 485.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this registration statement under Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, duly authorized, in the City and County of Los Angeles, and State of California, on the 19th day of October 2012.

AMERICAN FUNDS TAX-EXEMPT FUND OF NEW YORK

By /s/ Karl J. Zeile                                                              

     (Karl J. Zeile, President and Trustee)

 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed below on October 19, 2012, by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

	Signature	Title
(1)	Principal Executive Officer:
	/s/ Karl J. Zeile	President and Trustee
	(Karl J. Zeile)
(2)	Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer:
	/s/ Karl C. Grauman	Treasurer
	(Karl C. Grauman)
(3)	Trustees:
	William H. Baribault*	Trustee
	James G. Ellis*	Trustee
	Leonard R. Fuller*	Trustee
	W. Scott Hedrick*	Trustee
	R. Clark Hooper*	Chairman of the Board (Independent and Non-Executive)
	Merit E. Janow*	Trustee
	Laurel B. Mitchell*	Trustee
	Frank M. Sanchez*	Trustee
	Margaret Spellings*	Trustee
	Steadman Upham*	Trustee
	/s/ Karl J. Zeile	President and Trustee
	(Karl J. Zeile)
	*By: /s/ Courtney R. Taylor
	(Courtney R. Taylor, pursuant to a power of attorney filed herewith)

Counsel represents that this amendment does not contain disclosures that would make the amendment ineligible for effectiveness under the provisions of rule 485(b).

/s/ Katherine H. Newhall                                                        

 (Katherine H. Newhall)

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, William H. Baribault, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ William H. Baribault

William H. Baribault, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, James G. Ellis, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Ari M. Vinocor

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ James G. Ellis                                           

James G. Ellis, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Leonard R. Fuller, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   AMCAP Fund (File No. 002-26516, File No. 811-01435)

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   American Funds Global Balanced Fund (File No. 333-170605, File No. 811-22496)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   American Mutual Fund (File No. 002-10607, File No. 811-00572)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   The Investment Company of America (File No. 002-10811, File No. 811-00116)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Brian D. Bullard Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Ari M. Vinocor

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ Leonard R. Fuller

Leonard R. Fuller, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, W. Scott Hedrick, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ W. Scott Hedrick

W. Scott Hedrick, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, R. Clark Hooper, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital Income Builder (File No. 033-12967, File No. 811-05085)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-54444, File No. 811-07338)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   The New Economy Fund  (File No. 002-83848, File No. 811-03735)

-   The New Economy Fund

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Neal F. Wellons

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ R. Clark Hooper

R. Clark Hooper, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Merit E. Janow, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital Income Builder (File No. 033-12967, File No. 811-05085)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-54444, File No. 811-07338)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   The New Economy Fund  (File No. 002-83848, File No. 811-03735)

-   The New Economy Fund

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Neal F. Wellons

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ Merit E. Janow

Merit E. Janow, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Laurel B. Mitchell, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ Laurel B. Mitchell

Laurel B. Mitchell, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Frank M. Sanchez, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Los Angeles, CA, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ Frank M. Sanchez

Frank M. Sanchez, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Margaret Spellings, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Balanced Fund (File No. 002-10758, File No. 811-00066)

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   The Income Fund of America (File No. 002-33371, File No. 811-01880)

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   International Growth and Income Fund (File No. 333-152323, File No. 811-22215)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Jeffrey P. Regal

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 18th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ Margaret Spellings

Margaret Spellings, Board member

POWER OF ATTORNEY

I, Steadman Upham, the undersigned Board member of the following registered investment companies (collectively, the “Funds”):

-   American Funds College Target Date Series (File No. 333-180729, File No. 811-22692)

-   The American Funds Income Series – U.S. Government Securities Fund (File No. 002-98199, File No. 811-04318)

-   American Funds Insurance Series (File No. 002-86838, File No. 811-03857)

-   American Funds Money Market Fund (File No. 333-157162, File No. 811-22277)

-   American Funds Mortgage Fund (File No. 333-168595, File No. 811-22449)

-   American Funds Portfolio Series (File No. 333-178936, File No. 811-22656)

-   American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund (File No. 033-26431, File No. 811-05750)

-   American Funds Target Date Retirement Series (File No. 333-138648, File No. 811-21981)

-   American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (File No. 333-168594, File No. 811-22448)

-   The American Funds Tax-Exempt Series II – The Tax-Exempt Fund of California (File No. 033-06180, File No. 811-04694)

-   American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (File No. 033-80630, File No. 811-08576)

-   American High-Income Trust (File No. 033-17917, File No. 811-05364)

-   The Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-50700, File No. 811-02444)

-   Capital Income Builder (File No. 033-12967, File No. 811-05085)

-   Capital World Bond Fund (File No. 033-12447, File No. 811-05104)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund, Inc. (File No. 033-54444, File No. 811-07338)

-   Capital World Growth and Income Fund

-   Intermediate Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-19514, File No. 811-05446)

-   Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 033-66214, File No. 811-07888)

-   The New Economy Fund  (File No. 002-83848, File No. 811-03735)

-   The New Economy Fund

-   Short-Term Bond Fund of America (File No. 333-135770, File No. 811-21928)

-   The Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America (File No. 002-49291, File No. 811-02421)

hereby revoke all previous powers of attorney I have signed and otherwise act in my name and behalf in matters involving the Funds and do hereby constitute and appoint

Vincent P. Corti Steven I. Koszalka Patrick F. Quan Courtney R. Taylor Julie E. Lawton Tanya Schneider Raymond F. Sullivan, Jr. Karl C. Grauman M. Susan Gupton Brian C. Janssen Dori Laskin Gregory F. Niland Neal F. Wellons

each of them singularly, my true and lawful attorneys-in-fact, with full power of substitution, and with full power to each of them, to sign for me and in my name in the appropriate capacities, all Registration Statements of the Funds on Form N-1A, any and all subsequent Amendments, or Post-Effective Amendments to said Registration Statement on Form N-1A or any successor thereto, and any supplements or other instruments in connection therewith, and generally to do all such things in my name and behalf in connection therewith as said attorneys-in-fact deem necessary or appropriate, to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 as amended, and all related requirements of the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission.  I hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys-in-fact or their substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

EXECUTED at Washington, DC, this 13th day of June, 2012.

(City, State)

/s/ Steadman Upham

Steadman Upham, Board member

Exhibit Index

Exhibit No.	Description
EX-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
EX-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
EX-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
EX-101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 01, 2012
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund®
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund's investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal income tax.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	20.00%
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This 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 those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	In seeking to achieve its objective, the fund may forego opportunities that would result in capital gains and may accept prudent risks to capital value, in each case to take advantage of opportunities for higher current income. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limitation, in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal bonds rated BBB+ or below or Baa1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries. The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments will be invested. The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund. Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell. Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline.    Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds. Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You may lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Investment results
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa. The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com. Investment results for Class R-6 shares are not presented because the class had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2011. However, results for Class A shares are presented because Class A is the class of shares with the longest period of operation. Other share classes, including Class R-6 shares, have different expenses and therefore different investment results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa. The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	americanfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Calendar year total returns for Class A Shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were. Highest  11.55% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) Lowest  -13.96% (quarter ended December 31, 2008) The fund's total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012 was 7.99%.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares;
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table Footnotes	rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesTextBlock	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 3.39%          (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Barclays Municipal Bond Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.70%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.22%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.38%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.99%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.25%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.20%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.51%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.94%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.65%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.16%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.93%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class R-6
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_ExchangeFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.34%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.04%	[1]
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.38%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	39
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	122
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	213
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	480
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	6.24%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	6.24%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	5.66%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	4.68%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	6.38%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	(0.81%)
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(19.40%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	24.44%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	4.08%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	9.90%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The fund's total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	7.99%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	11.55%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	13.96%
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.75%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.83%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.82%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.14%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
Thirty Day Yield Caption	rr_ThirtyDayYieldCaption	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012:
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	800/325-3590
Thirty Day Yield	rr_ThirtyDayYield	3.39%
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class R-6 | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.75%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.83%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.82%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class R-6 | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.47%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.22%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.94%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994

[1] Based on estimated amounts for a full fiscal year.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 01, 2012
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America®
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund's investment objective is to provide you with current income that is exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with the maturity and quality standards described in this prospectus, and preservation of capital.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	9.00%
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text]	rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates	Based on estimated amounts for a full fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This 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 those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds in the rating categories of BBB and Baa or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund's portfolio is between three and 10 years. In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries. The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments will be invested. The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund. Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell. Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline. Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You may lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Investment results
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com. Investment results for Class R-6 shares are not presented because the class had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2011. However, results for Class A shares are presented because Class A is the class of shares with the longest period of operation. Other share classes, including Class R-6 shares, have different expenses and therefore different investment results.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	americanfunds.com.
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	(Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Highest/Lowest quarterly results during the period were: Highest 5.60% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) Lowest -2.23% (quarter ended December 31, 2010)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table Footnotes	rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesTextBlock	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 1.12%          (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.76%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.20%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.60%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.84%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.60%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.49%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.31%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.63%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class R-6
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.07%	[1]
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.32%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	33
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	103
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	180
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	406
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	7.81%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	4.28%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	2.77%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	1.57%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	3.61%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	3.24%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(1.31%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	9.45%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	3.64%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	7.48%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	5.60%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2010
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(2.23%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.77%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.95%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.44%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Thirty Day Yield Caption	rr_ThirtyDayYieldCaption	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012:
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	800/325-3590
Thirty Day Yield	rr_ThirtyDayYield	1.12%
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class R-6 | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.77%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.95%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class R-6 | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.11%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.80%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.86%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993

[1] Based on estimated amounts for a full fiscal year.

XML

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund®

Investment objective

The fund's investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current
income exempt from regular federal income tax.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes 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)

Shareholder Fees	American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund Class R-6
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses		American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund Class R-6
Management fees		0.34%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees		none
Other expenses	[1]	0.04%
Total annual fund operating expenses		0.38%

Example

This 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 those periods. 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:

Expense Example (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund Class R-6	39	122	213	480

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when
fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected
in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment
results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate
was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

In seeking to achieve its objective, the fund may forego opportunities that
would result in capital gains and may accept prudent risks to capital value,
in each case to take advantage of opportunities for higher current income.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets
in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt
from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limitation, in
securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund
invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal bonds rated BBB+
or below or Baa1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating
Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but
determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality.
Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as
"junk bonds." Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit
and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of
issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or
industries.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy
of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities
that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The
investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by
analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer,
prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes
in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the
particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment
adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment
opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal
investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood
of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities
held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors,
including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of
bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be
subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities.
In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or
refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund
having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the
possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer
of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest
and the security will go into default.

Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market
for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more
difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and
financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with
respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these
securities to decline.
  
Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt
securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of
default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than
those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities
may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may
decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks
may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.

Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal
obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types
of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic,
political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations
in the fund's share price may increase.

Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's
investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and
analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the
desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment
results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency,
entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall
investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in
the fund. The Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted
index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa. The Lipper High Yield
Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose
investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's
objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes)
are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the
fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.
Investment results for Class R-6 shares are not presented because the class
had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2011. However, results for
Class A shares are presented because Class A is the class of shares with the
longest period of operation. Other share classes, including Class R-6 shares,
have different expenses and therefore different investment results.

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results.

Calendar year total returns for Class A Shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)

Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were.

Highest  11.55% (quarter ended September 30, 2009)

Lowest  -13.96% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

The fund's total return for the six months ended
June 30, 2012 was 7.99%.

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other
share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest
individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods
shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual
after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ
from the results shown above.

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):

Average Annual Total Returns American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Class R-6	Share class A - Before taxes	5.75%	1.83%	3.82%	5.14%	Sep. 26, 1994
Class R-6 After Taxes on Distributions	Share class A - After taxes on distributions	5.75%	1.83%	3.82%		Sep. 26, 1994
Class R-6 After Taxes on Distributions and Sales	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	5.47%	2.22%	3.94%		Sep. 26, 1994
Barclays Municipal Bond Index	Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	10.70%	5.22%	5.38%	5.99%	Sep. 26, 1994
Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index	Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	9.25%	2.20%	5.51%		Sep. 26, 1994
Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average	Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)	9.94%	1.65%	4.16%	4.93%	Sep. 26, 1994

Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 3.39%         
(For current yield information, please call American FundsLine®
at 800/325-3590.)

[1] Based on estimated amounts for a full fiscal year.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 01, 2012
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York®
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objectives
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund's primary investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal, New York state and New York City income taxes.
Objective, Secondary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock	Its secondary objective is preservation of capital.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section on page 48 of the prospectus and on page 70 of the fund's statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	15.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	100,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This 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 those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The fund seeks to achieve its objectives by primarily investing in municipal bonds issued by the state of New York and its agencies and municipalities. Consistent with the fund's objectives, the fund may also invest in municipal securities that are issued by jurisdictions outside New York. Municipal bonds are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public purposes, including the construction of public facilities. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal, New York state and New York City income taxes and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund is intended primarily for taxable residents of New York. The fund will invest primarily in debt securities rated BBB- or better or Baa3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund also may invest in debt securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Such securities are sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some of the securities held by the fund may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments will be invested. The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Risks of investing in municipal bonds of issuers within the state of New York - Because the fund invests primarily in securities of issuers within the state of New York, the fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of New York securities than a comparable municipal bond mutual fund that does not concentrate in a single state. For example, such factors may include political policy changes, tax base erosion, state constitutional limits on tax increases, budget deficits and other financial or economic difficulties, and changes in the credit ratings assigned to New York's municipal issuers. New York's economy and finances may be especially vulnerable to changes in the performance of the financial services sector, which historically has been volatile. More detailed information about the risks of investing in New York municipal securities is contained in the statement of additional information. Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund. Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell. Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline. Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds. Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You may lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Investment results
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows the fund's investment results for its first full calendar year of operations, and the following table shows the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart shows the fund's investment results for its first full calendar year of operations, and the following table shows the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	americanfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows the fund's investment results for its first full calendar year of operations, and the following table shows the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	(Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Highest/Lowest quarterly results during the period were: Highest 3.99% (quarter ended September 30, 2011) Lowest 0.62% (quarter ended March 31, 2011) The fund's total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012, was 4.49%.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table Footnotes	rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesTextBlock	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 2.30%          (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Barclays New York Municipal Funds Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays New York Municipal Funds Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.79%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.26%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.05%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.69%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.79%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.47%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.90%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	3.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%	[1]
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.18%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.20%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.76%
Expense reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.13%)	[2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.63%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	2013-09-30
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	437
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	596
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	769
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,270
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	10.92%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2011
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	3.99%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Mar. 31, 2011
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	0.62%
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.72%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	2.69%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010
Thirty Day Yield Caption	rr_ThirtyDayYieldCaption	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012:
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	800/325-3590
Thirty Day Yield	rr_ThirtyDayYield	2.30%
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.72%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	2.69%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.48%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	2.71%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	5.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.99%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.22%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.59%
Expense reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.14%)	[2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.45%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	2013-09-30
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	648
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	888
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	1,052
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,654
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	148
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	488
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	852
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,654
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class B - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.95%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	1.81%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.24%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.62%
Expense reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.12%)	[2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	1.50%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	2013-09-30
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	253
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	499
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	870
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,912
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	153
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	499
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	870
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,912
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class C - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.89%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.23%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.23%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.25%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.86%
Expense reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.11%)	[2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.75%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	2013-09-30
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	77
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	263
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	466
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,051
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-1 - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.70%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.95%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.25%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.63%
Expense reimbursement	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets	(0.10%)	[2]
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement	rr_NetExpensesOverAssets	0.53%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination	rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination	2013-09-30
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	54
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	192
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	341
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	777
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-2 - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.98%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	6.20%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Nov. 01, 2010

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

[2] The investment adviser is currently reimbursing a portion of the other expenses. The reimbursement will be in effect at least through September 30, 2013, unless modified or terminated by the fund's board. The adviser may elect at its discretion to extend, modify or terminate the reimbursement at that time.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 01, 2012
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund®
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund's investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current income exempt from regular federal income tax.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section on page 48 of the prospectus and on page 70 of the fund's statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	20.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	100,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This 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 those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	In seeking to achieve its objective, the fund may forego opportunities that would result in capital gains and may accept prudent risks to capital value, in each case to take advantage of opportunities for higher current income. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limitation, in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal bonds rated BBB+ or below or Baa1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries. The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments will be invested. The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund. Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell. Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline. Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds. Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You may lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Investment results
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa. The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa. The Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	americanfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	(Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were: Highest  11.55% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) Lowest  -13.96% (quarter ended December 31, 2008) The fund's total return for the six month ended June 30, 2012, was 7.99%.
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares;
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table Footnotes	rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesTextBlock	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 3.39%          (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Barclays Municipal Bond Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.70%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.22%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.38%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.99%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.25%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.20%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	5.51%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.94%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.65%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.16%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.93%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	3.75%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%	[1]
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.34%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.26%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.68%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	442
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	584
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	739
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,190
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	6.24%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	6.24%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	5.66%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	4.68%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	6.38%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	(0.81%)
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(19.40%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	24.44%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	4.08%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	9.90%
Year to Date Return, Label	rr_YearToDateReturnLabel	The fund's total return
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return, Date	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturnDate	Jun. 30, 2012
Bar Chart, Year to Date Return	rr_BarChartYearToDateReturn	7.99%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	11.55%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(13.96%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.75%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.83%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.82%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.14%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
Thirty Day Yield Caption	rr_ThirtyDayYieldCaption	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012:
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	800/325-3590
Thirty Day Yield	rr_ThirtyDayYield	3.39%
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.75%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.83%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.82%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.47%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.22%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.94%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Sep. 26, 1994
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	5.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.34%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.08%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.42%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	645
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	849
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	976
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,500
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	145
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	449
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	776
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,500
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class B - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.07%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.54%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.63%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.17%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2000
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.34%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.12%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.46%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	249
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	462
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	797
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,746
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	149
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	462
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	797
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,746
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class C - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.02%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.82%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.39%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.50%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2001
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.34%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.17%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.76%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	78
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	243
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	422
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	942
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-1 - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	9.78%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.54%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.14%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.18%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 19, 2001
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.34%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.49%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	50
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	157
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	274
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	616
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-2 - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	10.09%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.93%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 12, 2008

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 01, 2012
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund®
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund's investment objective is to provide you with current income exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with its maturity and quality standards described in the prospectus, and to preserve capital.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $500,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section on page 48 of the prospectus and on page 70 of the fund's statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	14.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $500,000 in American Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	500,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This 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 those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated AA- or better or Aa3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. The fund's aggregate portfolio will have a dollar-weighted average maturity no greater than three years. In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries. The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments will be invested. The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund. Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell. Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline. Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You may lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Investment results
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. The results below and on the following page for certain periods shown reflect the operation of the fund as a money market fund prior to its conversion on August 7, 2009 to a short-term tax-exempt bond fund. Accordingly, results for such periods are not representative of the fund's results had the fund been operated as a short-term tax-exempt bond fund during the entire period. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. The results below and on the following page for certain periods shown reflect the operation of the fund as a money market fund prior to its conversion on August 7, 2009 to a short-term tax-exempt bond fund.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	americanfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Calender year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	(Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Highest/Lowest quarterly returns during this period were: Highest  1.29% (quarter ended September 30, 2010) Lowest  -0.76% (quarter ended December 31, 2010)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares;
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table Footnotes	rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesTextBlock	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 0.36% (For current yield information, please call American    FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Barclays Municipal Short 1-5 Years Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays Municipal Short 1-5 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	3.45%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.22%
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.40%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	2.52%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	2.50%
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	2.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%	[1]
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.15%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.06%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.59%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	309
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	434
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	571
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	969
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	0.89%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	0.46%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	0.66%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	1.93%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	2.95%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	3.18%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	1.54%
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	0.88%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	1.90%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	2.62%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2010
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	1.29%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2010
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(0.76%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.05%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.42%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.40%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 24, 1989
Thirty Day Yield Caption	rr_ThirtyDayYieldCaption	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012:
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	800/325-3590
Thirty Day Yield	rr_ThirtyDayYield	0.36%
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.05%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.42%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.40%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 24, 1989
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	0.45%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	1.42%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	1.40%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 24, 1989
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.78%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	80
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	249
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	433
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	966
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-1 - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.43%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	2.13%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 27, 2009
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.14%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.52%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	53
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	167
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	291
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	653
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class F-2 - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	2.68%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	2.33%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 12, 2009

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

XML

Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Second Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America®

Investment objective

The fund's investment objective is to provide you with current income that is
exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with the maturity and quality
standards described in this prospectus, and preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes 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)

Shareholder Fees	Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund Class R-6
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses		Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund Class R-6
Management fees		0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees		none
Other expenses	[1]	0.07%
Total annual fund operating expenses		0.32%

Example

This 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 those periods. 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:

Expense Example (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund Class R-6	33	103	180	406

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when
fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected
in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's
investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio
turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds. Under normal circumstances, the
fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its
income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that
do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest
up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal
alternative minimum tax.

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better
by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the
fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment
adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds
in the rating categories of BBB and Baa or unrated but determined by the fund's
investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which
the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including
guarantees and letters of credit. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the
fund's portfolio is between three and 10 years.

In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of
issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or
industries.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy
of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities
that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The
investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing
various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of
similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates,
general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being
evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no
longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal
investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The
likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities
held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors,
including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of
bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be
subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities.
In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or
refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund
having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the
possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer
of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest
and the security will go into default.

Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market
for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more
difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and
financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with
respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these
securities to decline.

Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt
securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of
default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than
those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities
may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may
decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty.

Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal
obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar
types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain
economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for
fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase.

Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's
investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods
and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce
the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment
results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund
fits into your overall investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in
the fund. The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund
and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably
comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment results
(before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting
americanfunds.com. Investment results for Class R-6 shares are not presented
because the class had not commenced operations as of December 31, 2011. However,
results for Class A shares are presented because Class A is the class of shares
with the longest period of operation. Other share classes, including Class R-6
shares, have different expenses and therefore different investment results.

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results.

Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)

Highest/Lowest quarterly results during the period were:

Highest 5.60% (quarter ended
September 30, 2009)

Lowest -2.23% (quarter ended
December 31, 2010)

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other
share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest
individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods
shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual
after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ
from the results shown above.

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):

Average Annual Total Returns Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Class R-6	Share class A - Before taxes	4.77%	3.91%	3.95%	4.44%	Oct. 06, 1993
Class R-6 After Taxes on Distributions	Share class A - After taxes on distributions	4.77%	3.91%	3.95%		Oct. 06, 1993
Class R-6 After Taxes on Distributions and Sales	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	4.11%	3.80%	3.86%		Oct. 06, 1993
Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index	Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	6.76%	5.20%	4.60%	4.84%	Oct. 06, 1993
Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average	Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)	8.60%	4.49%	4.31%	4.63%	Oct. 06, 1993

Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 1.12%         
(For current yield information, please call American FundsLine®
at 800/325-3590.)

[1] Based on estimated amounts for a full fiscal year.

XML

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund

American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund®

Investment objective

The fund's investment objective is to provide you with a high level of current
income exempt from regular federal income tax.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your
family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American
Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your
financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section
on page 48 of the prospectus and on page 70 of the fund's statement of
additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund	Class A		Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%		none	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	1.00%	none	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none		none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none		none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Management fees	0.34%	0.34%	0.34%	0.34%	0.34%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.26%	1.00%	1.00%	0.25%	none
Other expenses	0.08%	0.08%	0.12%	0.17%	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.68%	1.42%	1.46%	0.76%	0.49%

Example

This 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 those periods. 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:

Expense Example American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	442	584	739	1,190
Class B	645	849	976	1,500
Class C	249	462	797	1,746
Class F-1	78	243	422	942
Class F-2	50	157	274	616

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example, No Redemption American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (USD $)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	145	449	776	1,500
Class C	149	462	797	1,746

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when
fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected
in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment
results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate
was 20% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

In seeking to achieve its objective, the fund may forego opportunities that
would result in capital gains and may accept prudent risks to capital value,
in each case to take advantage of opportunities for higher current income.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in,
or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from
regular federal income tax. The fund may invest, without limitation, in
securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund
invests a significant portion of its portfolio in municipal bonds rated BBB+ or
below or Baa1 or below by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations
designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the
fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Securities rated BB+ or
below and Ba1 or below are sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some of the
securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support
features, including guarantees and letters of credit.

In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of
issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or
industries.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy
of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities
that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The
investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by
analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer,
prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes
in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the
particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment
adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment
opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal
investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The
likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities
held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors,
including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of
bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be
subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In
addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance
a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to
reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the
possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer
of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest
and the security will go into default.

Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market
for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult
to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and
financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with
respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these
securities to decline.

Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt
securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of
default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than
those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities
may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may
decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks may
be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.

Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal
obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types
of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain
economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for
fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase.

Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's
investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and
analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the
desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment
results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed
by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency,
entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall
investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in
the fund. The Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index is a market-value-weighted
index composed of municipal bonds rated below BBB/Baa. The Lipper High Yield
Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose
investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's
objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes)
are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the
fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results.

Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)

Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were:

Highest  11.55% (quarter ended September 30, 2009)

Lowest  -13.96% (quarter ended December 31, 2008)

The fund's total return for the six month ended
June 30, 2012, was 7.99%.

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other
share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest
individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods
shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual
after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ
from the results shown above.

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):

Average Annual Total Returns American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Class A	Share class A - Before taxes	5.75%	1.83%	3.82%	5.14%	Sep. 26, 1994
Class A After Taxes on Distributions	Share class A - After taxes on distributions	5.75%	1.83%	3.82%		Sep. 26, 1994
Class A After Taxes on Distributions and Sales	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	5.47%	2.22%	3.94%		Sep. 26, 1994
Class B	Share class B - Before taxes	4.07%	1.54%	3.63%	4.17%	Mar. 15, 2000
Class C	Share class C - Before taxes	8.02%	1.82%	3.39%	3.50%	Mar. 15, 2001
Class F-1	Share class F-1 - Before taxes	9.78%	2.54%	4.14%	4.18%	Mar. 19, 2001
Class F-2	Share class F-2 - Before taxes	10.09%			4.93%	Aug. 12, 2008
Barclays Municipal Bond Index	Barclays Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	10.70%	5.22%	5.38%	5.99%	Sep. 26, 1994
Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index	Barclays High Yield Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	9.25%	2.20%	5.51%		Sep. 26, 1994
Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average	Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)	9.94%	1.65%	4.16%	4.93%	Sep. 26, 1994

Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 3.39%         
(For current yield information, please call American FundsLine®
at 800/325-3590.)

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
ProspectusDate	rr_ProspectusDate	Oct. 01, 2012
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Risk/Return [Heading]	rr_RiskReturnHeading	Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America®
Objective [Heading]	rr_ObjectiveHeading	Investment objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block]	rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock	The fund's investment objective is to provide you with current income that is exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with the maturity and quality standards described in this prospectus, and preservation of capital.
Expense [Heading]	rr_ExpenseHeading	Fees and expenses of the fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock	This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $500,000 in American Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section on page 48 of the prospectus and on page 70 of the fund's statement of additional information.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]	rr_ShareholderFeesCaption	Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text]	rr_OperatingExpensesCaption	Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading	Portfolio turnover
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]	rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock	The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate	rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate	9.00%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts	You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $500,000 in American Funds.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]	rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount	500,000
Expense Example [Heading]	rr_ExpenseExampleHeading	Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]	rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock	This 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 those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same.
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption	Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption	For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:
Strategy [Heading]	rr_StrategyHeading	Principal investment strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block]	rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock	The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds. Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds in the rating categories of BBB and Baa or unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and letters of credit. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the fund's portfolio is between three and 10 years. In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or industries. The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their respective segments will be invested. The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment opportunities.
Risk [Heading]	rr_RiskHeading	Principal risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block]	rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock	This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time. Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund. Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities. Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest and the security will go into default. Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more difficult to value, acquire or sell. Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these securities to decline. Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase. Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives. Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund fits into your overall investment program.
Risk Lose Money [Text]	rr_RiskLoseMoney	You may lose money by investing in the fund.
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]	rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution	Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency, entity or person.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]	rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading	Investment results
Performance Narrative [Text Block]	rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]	rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text]	rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex	The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies.
Performance Availability Website Address [Text]	rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress	americanfunds.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]	rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture	Past investment results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Bar Chart [Heading]	rr_BarChartHeading	Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block]	rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock	The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market results.
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]	rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads	(Results do not include a sales charges; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]	rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock	Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were: Highest 5.60% (quarter ended September 30, 2009) Lowest -2.23% (quarter ended December 31, 2010)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate	rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate	After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred	rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred	Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]	rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary.
Performance Table Narrative	rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock	After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ from the results shown above.
Performance Table Footnotes	rr_PerformanceTableFootnotesTextBlock	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 1.12%          (For current yield information, please call American FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)
Caption	rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption	Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	6.76%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	5.20%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.60%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.84%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	8.60%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.49%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.31%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.63%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	2.50%
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%	[1]
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.30%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.05%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.60%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	310
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	437
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	576
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	981
Annual Return 2002	rr_AnnualReturn2002	7.81%
Annual Return 2003	rr_AnnualReturn2003	4.28%
Annual Return 2004	rr_AnnualReturn2004	2.77%
Annual Return 2005	rr_AnnualReturn2005	1.57%
Annual Return 2006	rr_AnnualReturn2006	3.61%
Annual Return 2007	rr_AnnualReturn2007	3.24%
Annual Return 2008	rr_AnnualReturn2008	(1.31%)
Annual Return 2009	rr_AnnualReturn2009	9.45%
Annual Return 2010	rr_AnnualReturn2010	3.64%
Annual Return 2011	rr_AnnualReturn2011	7.48%
Highest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Highest
Highest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate	Sep. 30, 2009
Highest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn	5.60%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label	rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel	Lowest
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate	Dec. 31, 2010
Lowest Quarterly Return	rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn	(2.23%)
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - Before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.77%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.95%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.44%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Thirty Day Yield Caption	rr_ThirtyDayYieldCaption	Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012:
Thirty Day Yield Phone	rr_ThirtyDayYieldPhone	800/325-3590
Thirty Day Yield	rr_ThirtyDayYield	1.12%
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.77%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.91%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.95%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	4.11%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.80%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.86%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Oct. 06, 1993
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	5.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.05%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.30%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	632
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	812
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	913
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,375
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	132
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	412
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	713
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,375
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share classes B - before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	1.74%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.36%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.63%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.09%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2000
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	1.00%
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	1.00%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.09%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	1.34%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	236
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	425
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	734
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	1,613
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01	136
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03	425
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05	734
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10	1,613
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share classes C - before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	5.69%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	3.66%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	3.41%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	3.40%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2001
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	0.25%
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.15%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.65%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	66
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	208
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	362
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	810
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share classes F-1 - before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.43%
5 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05	4.41%
10 Years	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10	4.16%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	4.09%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Mar. 15, 2001
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOfferingPrice	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	rr_MaximumSalesChargeOnReinvestedDividendsAndDistributionsOverOther	none
Redemption or exchange fees	rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption	none
Management fees	rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets	none
Other expenses	rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets	0.13%
Total annual fund operating expenses	rr_ExpensesOverAssets	0.38%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	rr_ExpenseExampleYear01	39
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear03	122
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear05	213
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years	rr_ExpenseExampleYear10	480
Label	rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel	Share classes F-2 - before taxes
1 Year	rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01	7.72%
Since Inception	rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception	5.34%
Inception Date	rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate	Aug. 18, 2008

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

XML

Label	Element	Value
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Document Type	dei_DocumentType	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	dei_DocumentPeriodEndDate	Jul. 31, 2012
Registrant Name	dei_EntityRegistrantName	AMERICAN FUNDS TAX-EXEMPT FUND OF NEW YORK
Central Index Key	dei_EntityCentralIndexKey	0001496999
Amendment Flag	dei_AmendmentFlag	false
Document Creation Date	dei_DocumentCreationDate	Sep. 28, 2012
Document Effective Date	dei_DocumentEffectiveDate	Oct. 01, 2012
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AMHIX
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	ABHMX
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AHICX
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	ABHFX
American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | American High-Income Municipal Bond Fund | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	AHMFX
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	LTEBX
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	LTXBX
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	LTXCX
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	LTXFX
Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	LTEFX
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	NYAAX
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class B
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	NYABX
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class C
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	NYACX
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	NYAEX
American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	NYAFX
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class A
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	ASTEX
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class F-1
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	FSTTX
American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund | Class F-2
Risk Return [Abstract]	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Trading Symbol	dei_TradingSymbol	ASTFX

XML

American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York

American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York®

Investment objectives

The fund's primary investment objective is to provide you with a high level of
current income exempt from regular federal, New York state and New York City
income taxes.

Its secondary objective is preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your
family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in American
Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your
financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section
on page 48 of the prospectus and on page 70 of the fund's statement of
additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York	Class A		Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%		none	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	1.00%	none	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none		none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none		none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York		Class A	Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Management fees		0.38%	0.38%	0.38%	0.38%	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees		0.18%	0.99%	1.00%	0.23%	none
Other expenses		0.20%	0.22%	0.24%	0.25%	0.25%
Total annual fund operating expenses		0.76%	1.59%	1.62%	0.86%	0.63%
Expense reimbursement	[1]	0.13%	0.14%	0.12%	0.11%	0.10%
Total annual fund operating expenses after expense reimbursement		0.63%	1.45%	1.50%	0.75%	0.53%

Example

This 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 those periods. 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:

Expense Example American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	437	596	769	1,270
Class B	648	888	1,052	1,654
Class C	253	499	870	1,912
Class F-1	77	263	466	1,051
Class F-2	54	192	341	777

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example, No Redemption American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York (USD $)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	148	488	852	1,654
Class C	153	499	870	1,912

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment
results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate
was 15% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

The fund seeks to achieve its objectives by primarily investing in municipal
bonds issued by the state of New York and its agencies and municipalities.
Consistent with the fund's objectives, the fund may also invest in municipal
securities that are issued by jurisdictions outside New York. Municipal bonds
are debt obligations generally issued to obtain funds for various public
purposes, including the construction of public facilities.

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in,
or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from
regular federal, New York state and New York City income taxes and that do not
subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to
20% of its assets in securities that subject you to federal alternative minimum
tax. The fund is intended primarily for taxable residents of New York.

The fund will invest primarily in debt securities rated BBB- or better or Baa3
or better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated
by the fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's
investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund also may invest in debt
securities rated BB+ or below and Ba1 or below by Nationally Recognized
Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or
unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent
quality. Such securities are sometimes referred to as "junk bonds." Some of the
securities held by the fund may have credit and liquidity support features,
including guarantees and letters of credit.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment
philosophy of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced
securities that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment
opportunities. The investment adviser believes that an important way to
accomplish this is by analyzing various factors, which may include the credit
strength of the issuer, prices of similar securities issued by comparable
issuers, anticipated changes in interest rates, general market conditions and
other factors pertinent to the particular security being evaluated. Securities
may be sold when the investment adviser believes that they no longer represent
relatively attractive investment opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal
investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The
likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Risks of investing in municipal bonds of issuers within the state of New York -
Because the fund invests primarily in securities of issuers within the state of
New York, the fund is more susceptible to factors adversely affecting issuers of
New York securities than a comparable municipal bond mutual fund that does not
concentrate in a single state. For example, such factors may include political
policy changes, tax base erosion, state constitutional limits on tax increases,
budget deficits and other financial or economic difficulties, and changes in the
credit ratings assigned to New York's municipal issuers. New York's economy and
finances may be especially vulnerable to changes in the performance of the
financial services sector, which historically has been volatile. More detailed
information about the risks of investing in New York municipal securities is
contained in the statement of additional information.

Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities
held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors,
including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of
bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be
subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In
addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or
refinance a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund
having to reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the
possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer
of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest
and the security will go into default.

Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market
for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more
difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and
financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with
respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these
securities to decline.

Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt
securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of
default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than
those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities
may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may
decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty. These risks
may be increased with respect to investments in junk bonds.

Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal
obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar
types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain
economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for
fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase.

Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's
investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods
and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce
the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment
results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund
fits into your overall investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows the fund's investment results for its first full
calendar year of operations, and the following table shows the fund's average
annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures
of market results. This information provides some indication of the risks of
investing in the fund. The Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average includes
the fund and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies
reasonably comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment
results (before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by visiting
americanfunds.com.

The following bar chart shows the fund's investment results for its first full
calendar year of operations, and the following table shows the fund's average
annual total returns for various periods compare with different broad measures
of market results.

Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)

Highest/Lowest quarterly results during the period were:

Highest 3.99% (quarter ended September 30, 2011)

Lowest 0.62% (quarter ended March 31, 2011)

The fund's total return for the six months ended June 30, 2012,
was 4.49%.

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other
share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest
individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods
shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual
after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will
differ from the results shown above.

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):

Average Annual Total Returns American Funds Tax-Exempt Fund of New York	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Class A	Share class A - Before taxes	6.72%			2.69%	Nov. 01, 2010
Class A After Taxes on Distributions	Share class A - After taxes on distributions	6.72%			2.69%	Nov. 01, 2010
Class A After Taxes on Distributions and Sales	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	5.48%			2.71%	Nov. 01, 2010
Class B	Share class B - Before taxes	4.95%			1.81%	Nov. 01, 2010
Class C	Share class C - Before taxes	8.89%			5.23%	Nov. 01, 2010
Class F-1	Share class F-1 - Before taxes	10.70%			5.95%	Nov. 01, 2010
Class F-2	Share class F-2 - Before taxes	10.98%			6.20%	Nov. 01, 2010
Barclays New York Municipal Funds Index	Barclays New York Municipal Funds Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	9.79%	5.26%		5.05%	Nov. 01, 2010
Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average	Lipper New York Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)	9.69%	3.79%	4.47%	3.90%	Nov. 01, 2010

Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 2.30%         
(For current yield information, please call American FundsLine®
at 800/325-3590.)

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions made within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

[1] The investment adviser is currently reimbursing a portion of the other expenses. The reimbursement will be in effect at least through September 30, 2013, unless modified or terminated by the fund's board. The adviser may elect at its discretion to extend, modify or terminate the reimbursement at that time.

XML

American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (Prospectus Summary) | American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund

American Funds Short-Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund®

Investment objective

The fund's investment objective is to provide you with current income exempt
from regular federal income tax, consistent with its maturity and quality
standards described in the prospectus, and to preserve capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your
family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $500,000 in American
Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your
financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section
on page 48 of the prospectus and on page 70 of the fund's statement of
additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund	Class A		Class F-1	Class F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	2.50%		none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00%	[1]	none	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none		none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none		none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund	Class A	Class F-1	Class F-2
Management fees	0.38%	0.38%	0.38%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.15%	0.25%	none
Other expenses	0.06%	0.15%	0.14%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.59%	0.78%	0.52%

Example

This 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 those periods. 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:

Expense Example American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	309	434	571	969
Class F-1	80	249	433	966
Class F-2	53	167	291	653

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment
results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate
was 14% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in,
or derive at least 80% of its income from, securities that are exempt from
regular federal income tax and that do not subject you to federal alternative
minimum tax. The fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in securities that
may subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund invests primarily
in municipal bonds rated AA- or better or Aa3 or better by Nationally Recognized
Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the fund's investment adviser, or
unrated but determined by the fund's investment adviser to be of equivalent
quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or
better by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by
the fund's investment adviser or unrated but determined by the fund's investment
adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which the fund
invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including guarantees and
letters of credit. The fund's aggregate portfolio will have a dollar-weighted
average maturity no greater than three years.

In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of
issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or
industries.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund is
divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy
of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities
that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The
investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by analyzing
various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer, prices of
similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes in interest
rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the particular
security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment adviser
believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment
opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal
investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The
likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities
held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors,
including those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of
bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be
subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In
addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance
a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to
reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the
possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer
of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest
and the security will go into default.

Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market
for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more
difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and
financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with
respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these
securities to decline.

Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal
obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar
types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain
economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for
fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase.

Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's
investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods
and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce
the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment
results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund
fits into your overall investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in
the fund. The Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund and
other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably
comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. The results below and on
the following page for certain periods shown reflect the operation of the fund
as a money market fund prior to its conversion on August 7, 2009 to a short-term
tax-exempt bond fund. Accordingly, results for such periods are not representative
of the fund's results had the fund been operated as a short-term tax-exempt bond
fund during the entire period. Past investment results (before and after taxes)
are not predictive of future investment results. Updated information on the fund's
investment results can be obtained by visiting americanfunds.com.

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results.

Calender year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)

Highest/Lowest quarterly returns during this period were:

Highest  1.29% (quarter ended September 30, 2010)

Lowest  -0.76% (quarter ended December 31, 2010)

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for other
share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the highest
individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of the periods
shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual
after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and likely will differ
from the results shown above.

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):

Average Annual Total Returns American Funds Short-Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Class A	Share class A - Before taxes	0.05%	1.42%	1.40%		Oct. 24, 1989
Class A After Taxes on Distributions	Share class A - After taxes on distributions	0.05%	1.42%	1.40%		Oct. 24, 1989
Class A After Taxes on Distributions and Sales	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	0.45%	1.42%	1.40%		Oct. 24, 1989
Class F-1	Share class F-1 - Before taxes	2.43%			2.13%	Aug. 27, 2009
Class F-2	Share class F-2 - Before taxes	2.68%			2.33%	Aug. 12, 2009
Barclays Municipal Short 1-5 Years Index	Barclays Municipal Short 1-5 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	3.45%	4.22%
Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average	Lipper Short Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)	2.40%	2.52%	2.50%

Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 0.36%
(For current yield information, please call American   
FundsLine® at 800/325-3590.)

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.

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Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (First Prospectus Summary) | Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund

Limited Term Tax-Exempt Bond Fund of America®

Investment objective

The fund's investment objective is to provide you with current income that is
exempt from regular federal income tax, consistent with the maturity and quality
standards described in this prospectus, and preservation of capital.

Fees and expenses of the fund

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold
shares of the fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your
family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $500,000 in American
Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your
financial professional and in the "Sales charge reductions and waivers" section
on page 48 of the prospectus and on page 70 of the fund's statement of
additional information.

Shareholder fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund	Class A		Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	2.50%		none	none	none	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the amount redeemed)	1.00%	[1]	5.00%	1.00%	none	none
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on reinvested dividends	none		none	none	none	none
Redemption or exchange fees	none		none	none	none	none

Annual fund operating expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund	Class A	Class B	Class C	Class F-1	Class F-2
Management fees	0.25%	0.25%	0.25%	0.25%	0.25%
Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees	0.30%	1.00%	1.00%	0.25%	none
Other expenses	0.05%	0.05%	0.09%	0.15%	0.13%
Total annual fund operating expenses	0.60%	1.30%	1.34%	0.65%	0.38%

Example

This 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 those periods. 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:

Expense Example Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (USD $)	Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Class A	310	437	576	981
Class B	632	812	913	1,375
Class C	236	425	734	1,613
Class F-1	66	208	362	810
Class F-2	39	122	213	480

For the share classes listed below, you would pay the following if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example, No Redemption Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund (USD $)	Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year	Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years	Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years
Class B	132	412	713	1,375
Class C	136	425	734	1,613

Portfolio turnover

The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells
securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate
may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when fund
shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in
annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the fund's investment
results. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate
was 9% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal investment strategies

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds. Under normal circumstances, the
fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in, or derive at least 80% of its
income from, securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax and that
do not subject you to federal alternative minimum tax. The fund may also invest
up to 20% of its assets in securities that may subject you to federal
alternative minimum tax.

The fund invests primarily in municipal bonds rated A- or better or A3 or better
by Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations designated by the
fund's investment adviser, or unrated but determined by the fund's investment
adviser to be of equivalent quality. The fund may also invest in municipal bonds
in the rating categories of BBB and Baa or unrated but determined by the fund's
investment adviser to be of equivalent quality. Some of the securities in which
the fund invests may have credit and liquidity support features, including
guarantees and letters of credit. The dollar-weighted average maturity of the
fund's portfolio is between three and 10 years.

In addition, the fund may invest significantly in municipal obligations of
issuers in the same state, or engaged in the same types of projects or
industries.

The investment adviser uses a system of multiple portfolio counselors in
managing the fund's assets. Under this approach, the portfolio of the fund
is divided into segments managed by individual counselors who decide how their
respective segments will be invested.

The fund relies on the professional judgment of its investment adviser to make
decisions about the fund's portfolio investments. The basic investment philosophy
of the investment adviser is to seek to invest in attractively priced securities
that, in its opinion, represent good, long-term investment opportunities. The
investment adviser believes that an important way to accomplish this is by
analyzing various factors, which may include the credit strength of the issuer,
prices of similar securities issued by comparable issuers, anticipated changes
in interest rates, general market conditions and other factors pertinent to the
particular security being evaluated. Securities may be sold when the investment
adviser believes that they no longer represent relatively attractive investment
opportunities.

Principal risks

This section describes the principal risks associated with the fund's principal
investment strategies. You may lose money by investing in the fund. The
likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.

Market conditions -- The prices of, and the income generated by, the securities
held by the fund may decline due to market conditions and other factors, including
those directly involving the issuers of securities held by the fund.

Investing in bonds -- Rising interest rates will generally cause the prices of
bonds and other debt securities to fall. Longer maturity debt securities may be
subject to greater price fluctuations than shorter maturity debt securities. In
addition, falling interest rates may cause an issuer to redeem, call or refinance
a security before its stated maturity, which may result in the fund having to
reinvest the proceeds in lower yielding securities.

Bonds and other debt securities are subject to credit risk, which is the
possibility that the credit strength of an issuer will weaken and/or an issuer
of a debt security will fail to make timely payments of principal or interest
and the security will go into default.

Thinly traded securities -- There may be little trading in the secondary market
for particular bonds or other debt securities, which may make them more
difficult to value, acquire or sell.

Credit and liquidity support -- Changes in the credit quality of banks and
financial institutions providing credit and liquidity support features with
respect to securities held by the fund could cause the values of these
securities to decline.

Investing in lower rated bonds -- Lower rated bonds and other lower rated debt
securities generally have higher rates of interest and involve greater risk of
default or price declines due to changes in the issuer's creditworthiness than
those of higher quality debt securities. The market prices of these securities
may fluctuate more than the prices of higher quality debt securities and may
decline significantly in periods of general economic difficulty.

Investing in similar municipal bonds -- Investing significantly in municipal
obligations of issuers in the same state or backed by revenues of similar
types of projects or industries may make the fund more susceptible to certain
economic, political or regulatory occurrences. As a result, the potential for
fluctuations in the fund's share price may increase.

Management -- The investment adviser to the fund actively manages the fund's
investments. Consequently, the fund is subject to the risk that the methods
and analyses employed by the investment adviser in this process may not produce
the desired results. This could cause the fund to lose value or its investment
results to lag relevant benchmarks or other funds with similar objectives.

Your investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or
guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other
governmental agency, entity or person. You should consider how this fund
fits into your overall investment program.

Investment results

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results. This information provides some indication of the risks of investing in
the fund. The Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average includes the fund
and other funds that disclose investment objectives and/or strategies reasonably
comparable to the fund's objective and/or strategies. Past investment results
(before and after taxes) are not predictive of future investment results.
Updated information on the fund's investment results can be obtained by
visiting americanfunds.com.

The following bar chart shows how the fund's investment results have varied from
year to year, and the following table shows how the fund's average annual total
returns for various periods compare with different broad measures of market
results.

Calendar year total returns for Class A shares (Results do not include a sales charge; if a sales charge were included, results would be lower.)

Highest/Lowest quarterly results during this period were:

Highest 5.60% (quarter ended September 30, 2009)

Lowest -2.23% (quarter ended December 31, 2010)

After-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares; after-tax returns for
other share classes will vary. After-tax returns are calculated using the
highest individual federal income tax rates in effect during each year of
the periods shown and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Your actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation and
likely will differ from the results shown above.

Average annual total returns For the periods ended December 31, 2011 (with maximum sales charge):

Average Annual Total Returns Limited Term Tax Exempt Bond Fund	Label	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years	Since Inception	Inception Date
Class A	Share class A - Before taxes	4.77%	3.91%	3.95%	4.44%	Oct. 06, 1993
Class A After Taxes on Distributions	Share class A - After taxes on distributions	4.77%	3.91%	3.95%		Oct. 06, 1993
Class A After Taxes on Distributions and Sales	Share class A - After taxes on distributions and sale of fund shares	4.11%	3.80%	3.86%		Oct. 06, 1993
Class B	Share classes B - before taxes	1.74%	3.36%	3.63%	4.09%	Mar. 15, 2000
Class C	Share classes C - before taxes	5.69%	3.66%	3.41%	3.40%	Mar. 15, 2001
Class F-1	Share classes F-1 - before taxes	7.43%	4.41%	4.16%	4.09%	Mar. 15, 2001
Class F-2	Share classes F-2 - before taxes	7.72%			5.34%	Aug. 18, 2008
Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index	Barclays Municipal Short-Intermediate 1-10 Years Index (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees, expenses or taxes)	6.76%	5.20%	4.60%	4.84%	Oct. 06, 1993
Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average	Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds Average (reflects no deductions for sales charges, account fees or taxes)	8.60%	4.49%	4.31%	4.63%	Oct. 06, 1993

Class A annualized 30-day yield at July 31, 2012: 1.12%         
(For current yield information, please call American FundsLine®
at 800/325-3590.)

[1] A contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% applies on certain redemptions within one year following purchases of $1 million or more made without an initial sales charge.