# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0000714287
**File Stem:** 0000088053-25-001030
**Filing Date:** 2025-12
**Character Count:** 38747
**Document Hash:** 556c91b9e26df4cadce42f658521238c
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0000088053-25-001030.hdr.sgml**: 20251201

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0000088053-25-001030

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 497K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 3

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20251201

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20251128

**EFFECTIVENESS DATE**: 20251201

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** DEUTSCHE DWS STATE TAX-FREE INCOME SERIES
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0000714287

**ORGANIZATION NAME:**
- **EIN:** 363221104
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MA
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 0831

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 497K
- **SEC ACT:** 1933 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 002-81549
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251536593

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 875 THIRD AVENUE
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10022-6225
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** 212-454-4500

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 875 THIRD AVENUE
- **CITY:** NEW YORK
- **STATE:** NY
- **ZIP:** 10022-6225

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** DEUTSCHE STATE TAX-FREE INCOME SERIES
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20140811

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** DWS STATE TAX-FREE INCOME SERIES
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20060207

**FORMER COMPANY:**
- **FORMER CONFORMED NAME:** SCUDDER STATE TAX-FREE INCOME SERIES
- **DATE OF NAME CHANGE:** 20010625

## Series and Classes Contracts Data

### DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund (Series ID: S000006111)

| Class ID   | Class Name          | Ticker Symbol   |
|:---|:---|:---|
| C000016814 | Class A             | KCTAX           |
| C000016816 | Class C             | KCTCX           |
| C000016817 | Class S             | SDCSX           |
| C000223770 | Institutional Class | DCLIX           |

![](graphic3.jpg)

DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund

Summary Prospectus \| December 1, 2025

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | | | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Class**/Ticker | **A** | KCTAX | **C** | KCTCX | **INST** | DCLIX | **S** | SDCSX |

---

Before you invest, you may want to review the fund's prospectus, which contains more information about the fund and its risks. You can find the fund's prospectus, reports to shareholders, Statement of Additional Information (SAI) and other information about the fund online at dws.com/mutualpros. You can also get this information at no cost by e-mailing a request to service@dws.com, calling (800) 728-3337 or asking your financial representative. The Prospectus and SAI, both dated December 1, 2025, as may be revised or supplemented from time to time, are incorporated by reference into this Summary Prospectus.

**Investment Objective**

The fund seeks a high level of current income that is exempt from California state and federal income taxes.

**Fees and Expenses**

These are the fees and expenses you may pay when you buy, hold and sell shares. **You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the tables and examples below.** You may qualify for sales charge discounts in Class A shares if you and your immediate family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in DWS funds. More information about these and other discounts and waivers is available from your financial representative and in Choosing a Share Class in the prospectus (p. 28), Sales Charge Waivers and Discounts Available Through Intermediaries in the prospectus (Appendix B, p. 60) and Purchase and Redemption of Shares in the fund's SAI (p. II-15).

SHAREHOLDER FEES (paid directly from your investment)

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **A** | **C** | **INST** | **S** |
| Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on <br> purchases, as % of offering price<br>| 2.75 |  |  |  |
| Maximum deferred sales charge (load), as <br> % of redemption proceeds<sup>1</sup> <br>|  | 1.00 |  |  |
| Account Maintenance Fee (annually, for <br> fund account balances below $10,000 and <br> subject to certain exceptions)<br>| $20 | $20 |  | $20 |

---

ANNUAL FUND OPERATING EXPENSES <br>(expenses that you pay each year as a % of the value of your investment)

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **A** | **C** | **INST** | **S** |
| Management fee | 0.39 | 0.39 | 0.39 | 0.39 |
| Distribution/service (12b-1) fees | 0.23 | 1.00 |  |  |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Interest expense | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other expenses | 0.26 | 0.26 | 0.27 | 0.30 |
| **Total other expenses** | 0.27 | 0.27 | 0.28 | 0.31 |
| Acquired funds fees and expenses | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.03 |
| **Total annual fund operating expenses** | 0.92 | 1.69 | 0.70 | 0.73 |
| Fee waiver/expense reimbursement | 0.11 | 0.13 | 0.14 | 0.17 |
| **Total annual fund operating expenses** <br> **after fee waiver/expense reimbursement**<br>| 0.81 | 1.56 | 0.56 | 0.56 |

---

<sup>1</sup>

Investments of $250,000 or more may be eligible to buy Class A shares without a sales charge (load), but may be subject to a contingent deferred sales charge of 1.00% if redeemed within 12 months of the original purchase date.

The Advisor has contractually agreed through November 30, 2026 to waive its fees and/or reimburse fund expenses to the extent necessary to maintain the fund's total annual operating expenses (excluding certain expenses such as extraordinary expenses, taxes, brokerage, interest expense and acquired fund fees and expenses) at ratios no higher than 0.77%, 1.52%, 0.52% and 0.52% for Class A, Class C, Institutional Class and Class S, respectively. The agreement may only be terminated with the consent of the fund's Board.

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 (including one year of capped expenses in each period) remain the same. Class C shares generally convert automatically to Class A shares after 8 years. The information

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presented in the Example for Class C reflects the conversion of Class C shares to Class A shares after 8 years. See "Class C Shares" in the "Choosing a Share Class" section of the prospectus for more information. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Years** | **A** | **C** | **INST** | **S** |
| 1 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $355 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $259 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $57 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $57 |
| 3 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 550 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 520 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 210 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 216 |
| 5 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 760 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 906 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 376 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 389 |
| 10 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1365 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1782 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 857 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 890 |

---

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

---

| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
| **Years** | **A** | **C** | **INST** | **S** |
| 1 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $355 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $159 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $57 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; $57 |
| 3 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 550 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 520 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 210 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 216 |
| 5 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 760 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 906 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 376 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 389 |
| 10 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1365 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1782 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 857 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 890 |

---

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 may indicate higher transaction costs and may mean higher taxes if you are investing in a taxable account. These costs are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the expense example, and can affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 58% of the average value of its portfolio.

**Principal Investment Strategies**

**Main investments.** Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities whose income is free from regular federal and California state income tax. The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in securities whose income is subject to the federal alternative minimum tax (AMT).

The fund can buy many types of municipal securities of all maturities. These may include revenue bonds (which are backed by revenue from a particular source) and general obligation bonds (which are typically backed by the issuer's ability to levy taxes). Municipal securities may also include private activity and industrial development bonds, municipal lease obligations and investments representing an interest in these. The fund can also invest in obligations of US territories and Commonwealths (such as Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Guam) and their agencies and authorities, whose income is free from regular federal and California state income tax.

Normally, at least 80% of the fund's municipal securities are rated in the four highest credit rating categories or, if unrated, determined by the Advisor to be of similar quality. Up to 20% of the fund's municipal securities may be high yield 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 fund may use forward delivery bonds, which are bonds priced on a determined date but that are not issued and settled until a later period (ranging from several weeks to more than a year). Forward delivery bonds with settlement dates greater than 35 days are treated as derivatives by the fund and are subject to the fund's policies and procedures with respect to derivatives. Forward delivery bonds with settlement dates greater than 35 days generally are used for non-hedging purposes to seek to enhance potential gains.

**Management process.** Portfolio management looks for securities that appear to offer the best total return potential. In making buy and sell decisions, portfolio management typically weighs a number of factors, including economic outlooks, possible interest rate movements, yield levels across varying maturities, and changes in supply and demand within the municipal bond market. When evaluating any individual security and its issuer, portfolio management may consider a number of factors including the security's credit quality and terms, such as coupon, maturity date and call date, as well as the issuer's capital structure, leverage and ability to meet its current obligations. Portfolio management generally also considers financially material environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, when available. Such factors may include, but are not limited to, exposure to climate change risks, income levels and unemployment data, and an issuer's governance structure and practices.

**Main Risks**

There are several risk factors that could hurt the fund's performance, cause you to lose money or cause the fund's performance to trail that of other investments. The fund may not achieve its investment objective, and is not intended to be a complete investment program. An investment in the fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.

**Interest rate risk.** When interest rates rise, prices of debt securities generally decline. The longer the duration of the fund's debt securities, the more sensitive the fund will be to interest rate changes. (As a general rule, a 1% rise in interest rates means a 1% fall in value for every year of duration.) When interest rates change, the values of longer-duration municipal bonds usually change more than the values of shorter-duration municipal bonds. Conversely,

DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund

**Summary Prospectus** December 1, 2025

------

municipal bonds with shorter durations or maturities will be less volatile but may provide lower returns than municipal bonds with longer durations or maturities. Rising interest rates also may lengthen the duration of municipal bonds with call features, since exercise of the call becomes less likely as interest rates rise, which in turn will make the securities more sensitive to changes in interest rates and result in even steeper price declines in the event of further interest rate increases. Interest rates can change in response to the supply and demand for credit, government and/or central bank monetary policy and action, inflation rates, and other factors. Changes in monetary policy made by central banks or governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on markets, may result in heightened market volatility and potential illiquidity and may detract from fund performance to the extent the fund is exposed to such interest rates and/or volatility. Rising interest rates could cause the value of the fund's investments — and therefore its share price as well — to decline. A rising interest rate environment may cause investors to move out of fixed-income securities and related markets on a large scale, which could adversely affect the price and liquidity of such securities and could also result in increased redemptions from the fund. Increased redemptions from the fund may force the fund to sell investments at a time when it is not advantageous to do so, which could result in losses.

**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.

**Focus risk – California municipal securities.** Because the fund focuses its investments in California municipal securities, its performance can be more volatile than that of a fund that invests more broadly, and it has a relatively large exposure to financial stresses affecting California. For example, the State of California relies heavily on income tax revenues and these revenues are likely to drop during economic downturns, but covering any shortfall by increasing taxes could be difficult due to California law restricting the imposition of new taxes. Examples of other factors that may affect fund performance include, but are not limited to, the costs and disruption caused by natural disasters, a fiscal crisis brought on by a national or regional economic downturn, and costs of maintaining certain government programs. California could also face severe fiscal difficulties, for example, from an economic downturn, increased costs for domestic security and reduced monetary support from the federal government.

Any deterioration of California's fiscal situation could increase the risk of investing in California municipal securities, including the risk of potential issuer default, and could also heighten the risk that the prices of California municipal securities will experience greater volatility.

A default or credit rating downgrade of a small number of municipal security issuers could affect the market values and marketability of all California municipal securities and adversely impact the fund's performance.

California municipal securities may also have exposure to potential physical risks resulting from climate change, including extreme weather, flooding and fires. Climate risks, if they materialize, can adversely impact a California municipal issuer's financial plans in current or future years or may impair a facility or other source generating revenues backing a California municipal issuer's revenue bonds. As a result, the impact of climate risks may adversely impact the value of the fund's shares.

**Market risk.** Deteriorating market conditions might cause a general weakness in the market that reduces the prices of securities in that market. Developments in a particular class of debt securities or the stock market could also adversely affect the fund by reducing the relative attractiveness of debt securities as an investment.

**Market disruption risk.** Economies and financial markets throughout the world have become increasingly interconnected, which has increased the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions. This includes reliance on global supply chains that are susceptible to disruptions resulting from, among other things, war and other armed conflicts, tariffs, extreme weather

DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund

**Summary Prospectus** December 1, 2025

------

events, and natural disasters. Such supply chain disruptions can lead to, and have led to, economic and market disruptions that have far-reaching effects on financial markets worldwide. The value of the fund's investments may be negatively affected by adverse changes in overall economic or market conditions, such as the level of economic activity and productivity, unemployment and labor force participation rates, inflation or deflation (and expectations for inflation or deflation), interest rates, demand and supply for particular products or resources including labor, debt levels and credit ratings, and trade policies, among other factors. Such adverse conditions may contribute to an overall economic contraction across entire economies or markets, which may negatively impact the profitability of issuers operating in those economies or markets. In addition, geopolitical and other globally interconnected occurrences, including war, terrorism, economic uncertainty or financial crises, contagion, tariffs and trade disputes, government debt crises (including defaults or downgrades) or uncertainty about government debt payments, government shutdowns, public health crises, natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, climate change and related events or conditions, have led, and in the future may lead, to disruptions in the US and world economies and markets, which may increase financial market volatility and have significant adverse direct or indirect effects on the fund and its investments. Adverse market conditions or disruptions could cause the fund to lose money, experience significant redemptions, and encounter operational difficulties. Although multiple asset classes may be affected by adverse market conditions or a particular market disruption, the duration and effects may not be the same for all types of assets.

Current military and other armed conflicts in various geographic regions, including those in Europe and the Middle East, among others, can lead to, and have led to, economic and market disruptions, which may not be limited to the geographic region in which the conflict is occurring. Such conflicts can also result, and have resulted in some cases, in sanctions being levied by the United States, the European Union and/or other countries against countries or other actors involved in the conflict. In addition, such conflicts and related sanctions can adversely affect regional and global energy, commodities, financial and other markets and thus could affect the value of the fund's investments. The extent and duration of any military or other armed conflict, related sanctions and resulting economic and market disruptions are impossible to predict, but could be substantial.

Other market disruption events include pandemic spread of viruses, such as the novel coronavirus known as COVID-19, which have caused significant uncertainty, market volatility, decreased economic and other activity, increased government activity, including economic stimulus measures, and supply chain disruptions, and may adversely affect the fund and its investments.

In addition, markets are becoming increasingly susceptible to disruption events resulting from the use of new and emerging technologies to engage in cyber-attacks or to take over the Web sites and/or social media accounts of companies, governmental entities or public officials, or to otherwise pose as or impersonate such, which then may be used to disseminate false or misleading information that can cause volatility in financial markets or for the securities of a particular company, group of companies, industry or other class of assets.

Adverse market conditions or particular market disruptions, such as those discussed above, may magnify the impact of each of the other risks described in this "MAIN RISKS" section and may increase volatility in one or more markets in which the fund invests leading to the potential for greater losses for the fund.

**Inflation risk.** Inflation risk is the risk that the real value of certain assets or real income from investments (the value of such assets or income after accounting for inflation) will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. Inflation, and investors' expectation of future inflation, can impact the current value of the fund's portfolio, resulting in lower asset values and losses to shareholders. This risk may be elevated compared to historical market conditions and could be impacted by monetary policy measures and the current interest rate environment.

**Tax risk.** Income from municipal securities held by the fund could be declared taxable because of unfavorable changes in tax laws, adverse interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities, or noncompliant conduct of a securities issuer. In such event, the value of such securities would likely fall, hurting fund performance and shareholders may be required to pay additional taxes. In addition, a portion of the fund's otherwise exempt-interest distributions may be taxable to those shareholders subject to the federal AMT.

**Private activity and industrial development bond risk.** The payment of principal and interest on these bonds is generally dependent solely on the ability of the facility's user to meet its financial obligations and the pledge, if any, of property financed as security for such payment.

**Security selection risk.** The securities in the fund's portfolio may decline in value. Portfolio management could be wrong in its analysis of municipalities, industries, companies, economic trends, ESG factors, the relative attractiveness of different securities or other matters.

**Forward commitment risk.** When the fund engages in forward or delayed delivery transactions, the fund relies on the counterparty to consummate the transaction. Failure to do so may result in the fund missing the opportunity to obtain a price or yield considered to be advantageous. Such transactions may also have the effect of leverage on the fund and may cause the fund to be more volatile.

DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund

**Summary Prospectus** December 1, 2025

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**Counterparty risk.** A financial institution or other counterparty with whom the fund does business, or that underwrites, distributes or guarantees any investments or contracts that the fund owns or is otherwise exposed to, may decline in financial health and become unable to honor its commitments. This could cause losses for the fund or could delay the return or delivery of collateral or other assets to the fund.

**Liquidity risk.** In certain situations, it may be difficult or impossible to sell an investment and/or the fund may sell certain investments at a price or time that is not advantageous in order to meet redemption requests or other cash needs. Unusual market conditions, such as an unusually high volume of redemptions or other similar conditions could increase liquidity risk for the fund, and in extreme conditions, the fund could have difficulty meeting redemption requests.

**Prepayment and extension risk.** When interest rates fall, issuers of high interest debt obligations may pay off the debts earlier than expected (prepayment risk), and the fund may have to reinvest the proceeds at lower yields. When interest rates rise, issuers of lower interest debt obligations may pay off the debts later than expected (extension risk), thus keeping the fund's assets tied up in lower interest debt obligations. Ultimately, any changes or unexpected behavior in interest rates could increase the volatility of the fund's share price and yield and could hurt fund performance. Prepayments could also create capital gains tax liability in some instances.

**Pricing risk.** If market conditions make it difficult to value some investments, the fund may value these investments using more subjective methods and the value determined for an investment may be materially different from the value realized upon such investment's sale. As a result, you could pay more than the market value when buying fund shares or receive less than the market value when selling fund shares.

**Operational and technology risk.** Cyber-attacks, disruptions or failures that affect the fund's service providers or counterparties, issuers of securities held by the fund, or other market participants may adversely affect the fund and its shareholders, including by causing losses for the fund or impairing fund operations. For example, the fund's or its service providers' assets or sensitive or confidential information may be misappropriated, data may be corrupted and operations may be disrupted (e.g., cyber-attacks, operational failures or broader disruptions may cause the release of private shareholder information or confidential fund information, interfere with the processing of shareholder transactions, impact the ability to calculate the fund's net asset value and impede trading). Market events and disruptions also may trigger a volume of transactions that overloads current information technology and communication systems and processes, impacting the ability to conduct the fund's operations.

While the fund and its service providers may establish business continuity and other plans and processes that seek to address the possibility of and fallout from cyber-attacks, disruptions or failures, there are inherent limitations in such plans and systems, including that they do not apply to third parties, such as fund counterparties, issuers of securities held by the fund or other market participants, as well as the possibility that certain risks have not been identified or that unknown threats may emerge in the future and there is no assurance that such plans and processes will be effective. Among other situations, disruptions (for example, pandemics or health crises) that cause prolonged periods of remote work or significant employee absences at the fund's service providers could impact the ability to conduct the fund's operations. In addition, the fund cannot directly control any cybersecurity plans and systems put in place by its service providers, fund counterparties, issuers of securities held by the fund or other market participants.

**Past Performance**

How a fund's returns vary from year to year can give an idea of its risk; so can comparing fund performance to market performance as measured by one or more indexes. The fund's average annual total returns are compared to a required broad-based securities market index and may also be compared to a more narrowly based index that the Advisor believes more closely aligns with the fund's investment strategy. Past performance may not indicate future results. All performance figures below assume that dividends and distributions were reinvested. For more recent performance figures, go to dws.com (the Web site does not form a part of this prospectus) or call the telephone number included in this prospectus.

CALENDAR YEAR TOTAL RETURNS (%) (Class A)

These year-by-year returns do not include sales charges, if any, and would be lower if they did. Returns for other classes were different and are not shown here.

![](catf.jpg)

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Returns** | **Period ending** |
| **Best Quarter** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 8.06% | December 31, 2023 |
| **Worst Quarter** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -7.00% | March 31, 2022 |
| **Year-to-Date** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1.36% | September 30, 2025 |

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DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund

**Summary Prospectus** December 1, 2025

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Average Annual Total Returns <br>(For periods ended 12/31/2024 expressed as a %)

After-tax returns (which are shown only for Class A and would be different for other classes) reflect the historical highest individual federal income tax rates, but do not reflect any state or local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns may be different. After-tax returns are not relevant to shares held in an IRA, 401(k) or other tax-advantaged investment plan.

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp; **Class** <br>**Inception**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **1** <br>**Year**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **5** <br>**Years**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **10** <br>**Years**<br>|
| **Class A** before tax | 2/17/1983 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -0.67 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -0.20 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.35 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After tax on distribu-<br> tions<br>|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -0.67 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -0.30 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.28 |
| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After tax on distribu-<br> tions and sale of fund <br> shares<br>|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.72 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.46 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.70 |
| **Class C** before tax | 5/31/1994 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.38 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -0.42 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.86 |
| **Class S** before tax | 6/15/2001 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.39 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.57 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.88 |
| **Bloomberg Municipal** <br> **Bond Index** (reflects no <br> deduction for fees, <br> expenses or taxes)<br>|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.05 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.99 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.25 |
| **Bloomberg California** <br> **Exempt Municipal Bond** <br> **Index** (reflects no deduc-<br> tion for fees, expenses <br> or taxes)<br>|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.02 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.96 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.23 |

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

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| | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Class** <br>**Inception**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **1** <br>**Year**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Since** <br>**Inception**<br>|
| **INST Class** before tax | 12/1/2020 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.40 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.01 |
| **Bloomberg Municipal** <br> **Bond Index** (reflects no <br> deduction for fees, <br> expenses or taxes)<br>|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.05 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.11 |
| **Bloomberg California** <br> **Exempt Municipal Bond** <br> **Index** (reflects no deduc-<br> tion for fees, expenses <br> or taxes)<br>|  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.02 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;0.04 |

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The fund's additional index, the Bloomberg California Exempt Municipal Bond Index, is a more narrowly based index that reflects the market sector in which the fund invests.

**Management**

**Investment Advisor**

DWS Investment Management Americas, Inc.

**Portfolio Manager(s)**

**Matthew J. Caggiano, CFA, Managing Director and Head of Investment Strategy Fixed Income.** Portfolio Manager of the fund. Began managing the fund in 1999.

**Michael J. Generazo, Director and Senior Portfolio Manager Fixed Income.** Portfolio Manager of the fund. Began managing the fund in 2010.

**Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares**

Minimum Initial Investment ($)

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| | | | | |
|:---|:---|:---|:---|:---|
|  | **Non-IRA**  | **IRAs** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **UGMAs/**<br> **UTMAs**<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; **Automatic** <br> **Investment** <br> **Plans** <br>|
| **A, C**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1000<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 500<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1000 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 500<br>|
| **INST**  | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1000000<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; N/A | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; N/A | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; N/A |
| **S** | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 2500<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1000<br>| &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1000 | &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1000 |

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For participants in all group retirement plans, and in certain fee-based and wrap programs approved by the Advisor, there is no minimum initial investment and no minimum additional investment for Class A, C and S shares. For Section 529 college savings plans, there is no minimum initial investment and no minimum additional investment for Class S shares. The minimum initial investment for Class S shares may be waived for eligible intermediaries that have agreements with DDI to offer Class S shares in their brokerage platforms when such Class S shares are held in omnibus accounts on such brokerage platforms. In certain instances, the minimum initial investment may be waived for Institutional Class shares. For more information regarding available Institutional Class investment minimum waivers, see "Institutional Class Shares – Investment Minimum" in the "Choosing a Share Class" section of the prospectus. There is no minimum additional investment for Institutional Class shares. The minimum additional investment in all other instances is $50.

To Place Orders

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Mail** | All Requests | DWS<br> PO Box 219151<br> Kansas City, MO 64121-9151<br>|
| **Expedited Mail** | **Expedited Mail** | DWS<br> 801 Pennsylvania Ave<br> Suite 219151<br> Kansas City, MO 64105-1307<br>|
| **Web Site** | **Web Site** | dws.com |
| **Telephone** | **Telephone** | (800) 728-3337, M – F 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. ET |
| **Hearing Impaired** | **Hearing Impaired** | For hearing impaired assistance, please<br> call us using a relay service<br>|

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The fund is generally open on days when the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading. If you invest with the fund directly through the transfer agent, you can open a new fund account (Class S shares only) and make an initial investment on the Internet at dws.com, by using the mobile app or by mail. You can make additional investments or sell shares of the fund on any business day by visiting the fund's Web site, by using the mobile app, by mail, or by telephone; however you may have to elect certain privileges on your initial account application. The ability to open new fund accounts and to transact online or using the mobile app varies depending on share class and account type. If you are working with a financial representative, contact your financial representative for assistance with buying or selling fund shares. A financial representative separately may impose its own policies and procedures for buying and selling fund shares.

Institutional Class shares are generally available only to qualified institutions. Class S shares are available through certain intermediary relationships with financial services firms, or can be purchased by establishing an account directly with the fund's transfer agent.

DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund

**Summary Prospectus** December 1, 2025

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**Tax Information**

The fund's distributions are generally exempt from regular federal and state income tax. All or a portion of the fund's dividends may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax.

**Payments to Broker-Dealers and** <br> **Other Financial Intermediaries**

If you purchase shares of the fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank), the fund, the Advisor, and/or the Advisor's affiliates may pay the intermediary for the sale of fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the fund over another investment. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary's Web site for more information.

DWS California Tax-Free Income Fund

**Summary Prospectus** December 1, 2025 **DCATF-SUM**

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