
Taxable muni bond funds can be a bit confusing, but don't worry, I'm here to break it down for you.
Taxable muni bond funds are a type of investment that allows you to invest in municipal bonds while still being subject to federal income tax.
You can invest in taxable muni bond funds through a brokerage account or a retirement account, such as a 401(k) or an IRA.
These funds typically invest in a diversified portfolio of municipal bonds from various issuers, offering a relatively stable source of income and potential for capital appreciation.
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What Are Municipal Bonds?
Municipal bonds are issued by local governments to finance projects that the federal government won't subsidize. These bonds can be used to fund a variety of projects, such as infrastructure development, public buildings, and community services.
Local governments issue municipal bonds to finance projects that the federal government won't subsidize. This can include infrastructure development, public buildings, and community services.
A taxable municipal bond is a type of municipal bond that is not tax-exempt. This means that investors will have to pay taxes on the income earned from these bonds.
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Types of Municipal Bonds
Municipal bonds are issued to finance various projects, including shortfalls in state and local pension funds.
Taxable municipal bonds are used to finance these shortfalls, as well as other projects such as local sports facilities and infrastructure-related repairs.
Build America Bonds (BABs) are a type of taxable municipal bond that was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
They offer special tax credits and federal subsidies for either the bond issuer or holder.
Taxable municipal bonds are popular among institutional investors and mutual funds that cannot take advantage of other tax breaks.
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Municipal Bond Basics
Municipal bonds are issued by local governments to finance projects that the federal government won't subsidize.
These bonds can be used to fund a wide range of projects, such as infrastructure development, public transportation, and community facilities.
A taxable municipal bond is a type of fixed-income security that is issued to finance these types of projects.
Understanding Municipal Bonds
Municipal bonds are issued by local and state governments to fund projects for the betterment of the community, such as building schools, highways, and hospitals.
A municipality may also issue a bond on behalf of a private company, which may be otherwise unable to obtain financing for the project. This can attract private businesses, resulting in more jobs in the area.
Investors who buy municipal bonds are essentially lending money to a municipality that promises to pay interest periodically until the bond matures, at which point the principal investment is repaid to the investor.
The tax-exempt status of municipal bonds is only granted if the projects funded from the proceeds of the issue provide a significant benefit to the community at large.
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Core Requirements for Municipal Bonds
Municipal bonds are a type of investment that can be a bit tricky to understand, but don't worry, we've got you covered.
To qualify as a municipal bond, the project it finances must have obvious public benefits. If it doesn't, the interest from the bond is taxable.
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The federal government won't subsidize financing for projects without public benefits, so investors will have to pay taxes on the interest earned from these bonds. This means the yields on these bonds are comparable to other taxable entities, like corporate bonds and government agency bonds.
The risks and benefits of each option will vary depending on individual factors, so it's essential to do your research before investing.
Some taxable municipal bonds are exempt from state and local taxes, which can increase the effective yield for investors who reside in the state of issuance. This is a significant advantage, as it can make these bonds more attractive to investors.
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Municipal Bond Investing
Taxable munis offer strong credit quality, high yields, and better total returns, making them a great way to de-risk a bond portfolio and boost income.
Taxable municipal bonds have been around since the mid-1980s, but it wasn't until 2009 that they took off, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Build America Bond program.
The $4 trillion muni market now includes a growing portfolio of fully taxable assets, which is less risky than corporate bonds for that higher yield.
Here are some key facts about taxable municipal bonds:
Overlooked Asset Class
Taxable municipal bonds are an often-overlooked asset class in the fixed-income space, but they offer strong credit quality, high yields, and better total returns. This is because they pay higher yields than tax-free municipal bonds to compensate for the lack of a tax break.
Tax-free municipal bonds have low yields due to the tax break, but taxable municipal bonds often pay higher yields because they're less popular and face pricing inefficiencies. This allows investors to potentially secure better yields.
Taxable municipal bonds have had very low default rates, just like traditional bread-and-butter municipal bonds. This is because many are backed by a state's taxing authority or the revenues generated by a specific project.
According to New York Life, 77% of taxable municipal bonds are rated AA or higher compared to just 9% of global investment-grade corporate bonds. This higher rating, low default rate, and lower volatility of rating changes allow investors to de-risk their fixed-income portfolios while getting a high yield.
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Here are some ETFs that track the taxable municipal and Build America bond sectors, sorted by their YTD total returns:
Taxable municipal bonds can be a great way to de-risk a bond portfolio and boost income, especially for conservative investors and those near or in retirement.
Taking an Approach
Investors may want to consider taxable munis, which offer a high yield and the ability to de-risk a bond portfolio.
The benefits of taxable munis are substantial, but getting your hands on them can be a challenge.
Buying individual taxable muni bonds is nearly impossible due to the small size of the taxable muni segment.
There is only one ETF that covers the sector, the $1 billion Invesco Taxable Municipal Bond ETF (BAB).
This ETF tracks the ICE BofAML U.S. Taxable Municipal Securities Plus Index, which holds various taxable muni debt.
Taxable munis are less risky than corporate bonds for that higher yield.
The $4 trillion muni market has a growing portfolio of fully taxable assets.
Taxable munis have taken off since 2009, thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Build America Bond program.
The Tax Cuts & Job Act of 2017 prohibited municipalities from issuing tax-free bonds for debt restructuring, shifting these pre-refunding transactions onto the taxable side.
Municipal Bond Funds
A municipal bond fund is a type of investment that pools money from multiple investors to buy taxable municipal bonds. These bonds are issued by local governments to finance projects that the federal government won't subsidize.
Taxable municipal bond funds invest in these types of bonds, providing a way for investors to access the municipal bond market.
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Fund Description
Municipal bond funds invest in bonds issued by local governments and other public entities to finance projects and activities.
These funds can be a great option for investors seeking tax-free income, as they invest in municipal bonds that are exempt from federal income tax and, in some cases, state and local taxes.
The interest rates on municipal bonds are often lower than those on corporate bonds, but the tax-free income can make up for the difference.
Municipal bond funds can be broadly classified into two types: general obligation bonds and revenue bonds.
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Total Return Ranking - Trailing
Municipal bond funds can be a great investment option, but it's essential to evaluate their performance over time. The Total Return Ranking - Trailing is a useful metric to consider.
For the year-to-date (YTD) period, EAMBX Return ranks 18.62% in its category, indicating it's performing relatively well.
The one-year performance of EAMBX is a different story, with a return of -6.0%, ranking 87.67% in its category. This suggests that many other municipal bond funds have outperformed it over the past year.
In general, it's essential to look at the long-term performance of a fund, rather than just its short-term returns. However, since the three-year, five-year, and ten-year returns for EAMBX are not available, we can't draw any conclusions about its long-term performance.
Here's a summary of EAMBX's performance over different time periods:
As you can see, EAMBX's performance varies significantly depending on the time period. It's essential to carefully evaluate these numbers and consider other factors before making an investment decision.
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Distribution History
Municipal Bond Funds often provide regular distributions to their investors. These distributions are typically made quarterly or annually.
To calculate the distribution rate, the fund's management takes the most recent declared regular distribution and divides it by the fund's market price or NAV, whichever is applicable. Special distributions, including special capital gains distributions, are not included in the calculation.
The distribution rate can give you an idea of the fund's income-generating potential.
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Municipal Bond Overview
Municipal bonds are a type of bond issued by local and state governments to fund projects for the betterment of the community, such as building schools, highways, and hospitals.
These bonds are typically tax-exempt, which means investors don't have to pay federal taxes on the interest earned. However, not all municipal bonds are tax-exempt, and these are called taxable municipal bonds.
Taxable municipal bonds are issued to finance activities that don't provide a major benefit to the public, meaning they don't qualify for tax-exempt status.
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Investors can choose from various types of municipal bonds, including private activity bonds (PABs), which attract private businesses and result in more jobs in the area.
Taxable municipal bonds offer a strong credit quality, high yields, and better total returns compared to other fixed-income investments.
Here are some key characteristics of taxable municipal bonds:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is municipal bond interest taxable in the IRS?
Municipal bond interest is generally not taxable with the IRS, but there are exceptions for nonqualified private activity bonds. Tax-exempt status depends on the bond's qualification under IRC ยง 103(b).
Who buys taxable municipal bonds?
Municipal bonds are typically bought by individuals, mutual funds, ETFs, banks, insurance companies, and foreign investors seeking tax-exempt income. These investors purchase and hold or trade municipal securities for their tax benefits.
What is the downside of tax-free municipal bonds?
Municipal bonds may have state or local taxes, and their interest can increase your Social Security tax liability, making them less tax-free than they seem
Sources
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/taxable-municipal-bond.asp
- https://www.municipalbonds.com/education/taxable-muni-bonds-a-high-yield-opportunity-to-de-risk/
- https://www.dividend.com/funds/eambx-eaton-vance-taxable-municipal-bond-a/
- https://www.nuveen.com/en-us/closed-end-funds/nbb-nuveen-taxable-municipal-income-fund
- https://www.newyorklifeinvestments.com/mackay-shields/insights/taxable-muni-bonds-an-overlooked-asset-class
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