<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000202679
<NAME> PIONEER TAX-FREE INCOME FUND
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 003
   <NAME> PIONEER TAX-FREE INCOME FUND CLASS C
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        421827316
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       445235029
<RECEIVABLES>                                  8604362
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                   45438
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               453884829
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       5119480
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      6977355
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                            8405829
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     421233841
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            32213
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                        2265920
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      23407713
<NET-ASSETS>                                 446907474
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                             27766181
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               (4151820)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       23614361
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                       7202137
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (15506855)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                         15309643
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      (10503)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        (5475)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                            (387)      
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                          31562  
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        729
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                               1380
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                        31744999
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          81771
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                      2346470
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          2196607
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                4248842
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            262115
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            12.32
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.49
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         (0.24)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            (0.50)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       (0.19)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.88
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.71
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>