Label

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Value

Risk/Return:

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Registrant Name

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DEUTSCHE DWS STATE TAX-FREE INCOME SERIES

Prospectus Date

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Aug. 01, 2019

Supplement to Prospectus [Text Block]

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SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUSES

DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

Effective on or about December 1, 2019, the prospectuses are supplemented as follows:

The following disclosure replaces the third paragraph contained under "Main investments" in the "PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES" section of the summary section and the "FUND DETAILS" section of the fund's prospectuses.

The fund normally invests at least 80% of total assets in municipal securities of the top four grades of credit quality or, if unrated, determined by the fund's investment advisor to be of similar quality. The fund could invest up to 20% of total assets in high yield, below investment-grade bonds (commonly referred to as "junk" bonds), which are those rated below the fourth highest rating category (i.e., grade BB/Ba and below). Compared to investment-grade bonds, junk bonds generally pay higher yields but have higher volatility and higher risk of default on payments.

The following disclosure replaces the existing disclosure contained under the "MAIN RISKS" section of the summary section and "FUND DETAILS" section of the fund's prospectuses.

Credit risk. The fund's performance could be hurt if an issuer of a debt security suffers an adverse change in financial condition that results in the issuer not making timely payments of interest or principal, a security downgrade or an inability to meet a financial obligation. Credit risk is greater for lower-rated securities.

Because the issuers of high yield debt securities, or junk bonds (debt securities rated below the fourth highest credit rating category), may be in uncertain financial health, the prices of their debt securities can be more vulnerable to bad economic news, or even the expectation of bad news, than investment-grade debt securities. Credit risk for high yield securities is greater than for higher-rated securities.

Because securities in default generally have missed one or more payments of interest and/or principal, an investment in such securities has an increased risk of loss. Issuers of securities in default have an increased likelihood of entering bankruptcy or beginning liquidation procedures which could impact the fund's ability to recoup its investment. Securities in default may be illiquid or trade in low volumes and thus may be difficult to value.

For securities that rely on third-party guarantors to support their credit quality, the same risks may apply if the financial condition of the guarantor deteriorates or the guarantor ceases to insure securities. Because guarantors may insure many types of securities, including subprime mortgage bonds and other high-risk bonds, their financial condition could deteriorate as a result of events that have little or no connection to securities owned by the fund.

DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

Risk/Return:

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Supplement to Prospectus [Text Block]

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SUPPLEMENT TO THE CURRENTLY EFFECTIVE PROSPECTUSES

DWS Massachusetts Tax-Free Fund

Effective on or about December 1, 2019, the prospectuses are supplemented as follows:

The following disclosure replaces the third paragraph contained under "Main investments" in the "PRINCIPAL INVESTMENT STRATEGIES" section of the summary section and the "FUND DETAILS" section of the fund's prospectuses.

The fund normally invests at least 80% of total assets in municipal securities of the top four grades of credit quality or, if unrated, determined by the fund's investment advisor to be of similar quality. The fund could invest up to 20% of total assets in high yield, below investment-grade bonds (commonly referred to as "junk" bonds), which are those rated below the fourth highest rating category (i.e., grade BB/Ba and below). Compared to investment-grade bonds, junk bonds generally pay higher yields but have higher volatility and higher risk of default on payments.

The following disclosure replaces the existing disclosure contained under the "MAIN RISKS" section of the summary section and "FUND DETAILS" section of the fund's prospectuses.

Credit risk. The fund's performance could be hurt if an issuer of a debt security suffers an adverse change in financial condition that results in the issuer not making timely payments of interest or principal, a security downgrade or an inability to meet a financial obligation. Credit risk is greater for lower-rated securities.

Because the issuers of high yield debt securities, or junk bonds (debt securities rated below the fourth highest credit rating category), may be in uncertain financial health, the prices of their debt securities can be more vulnerable to bad economic news, or even the expectation of bad news, than investment-grade debt securities. Credit risk for high yield securities is greater than for higher-rated securities.

Because securities in default generally have missed one or more payments of interest and/or principal, an investment in such securities has an increased risk of loss. Issuers of securities in default have an increased likelihood of entering bankruptcy or beginning liquidation procedures which could impact the fund's ability to recoup its investment. Securities in default may be illiquid or trade in low volumes and thus may be difficult to value.

For securities that rely on third-party guarantors to support their credit quality, the same risks may apply if the financial condition of the guarantor deteriorates or the guarantor ceases to insure securities. Because guarantors may insure many types of securities, including subprime mortgage bonds and other high-risk bonds, their financial condition could deteriorate as a result of events that have little or no connection to securities owned by the fund.

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

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The fund normally invests at least 80% of total assets in municipal securities of the top four grades of credit quality or, if unrated, determined by the fund's investment advisor to be of similar quality. The fund could invest up to 20% of total assets in high yield, below investment-grade bonds (commonly referred to as "junk" bonds), which are those rated below the fourth highest rating category (i.e., grade BB/Ba and below). Compared to investment-grade bonds, junk bonds generally pay higher yields but have higher volatility and higher risk of default on payments.

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

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Credit risk. The fund's performance could be hurt if an issuer of a debt security suffers an adverse change in financial condition that results in the issuer not making timely payments of interest or principal, a security downgrade or an inability to meet a financial obligation. Credit risk is greater for lower-rated securities.

Because the issuers of high yield debt securities, or junk bonds (debt securities rated below the fourth highest credit rating category), may be in uncertain financial health, the prices of their debt securities can be more vulnerable to bad economic news, or even the expectation of bad news, than investment-grade debt securities. Credit risk for high yield securities is greater than for higher-rated securities.

Because securities in default generally have missed one or more payments of interest and/or principal, an investment in such securities has an increased risk of loss. Issuers of securities in default have an increased likelihood of entering bankruptcy or beginning liquidation procedures which could impact the fund's ability to recoup its investment. Securities in default may be illiquid or trade in low volumes and thus may be difficult to value.

For securities that rely on third-party guarantors to support their credit quality, the same risks may apply if the financial condition of the guarantor deteriorates or the guarantor ceases to insure securities. Because guarantors may insure many types of securities, including subprime mortgage bonds and other high-risk bonds, their financial condition could deteriorate as a result of events that have little or no connection to securities owned by the fund.