Taxable Equivalent Yield

Taxable equivalent yield

The return from a higher-paying but taxable investment that would equal the return from a tax-free investment. This depends on the investor's tax bracket.

---

Taxable Equivalent Yield

The yield of a taxable investment that equals the yield of a tax-free investment with a lower stated yield. A corporate bond yields less than its stated interest rate because of taxation, whereas a tax-exempt municipal bond does not. Thus, a municipal bond paying a lower interest rate will often net the bondholder more than a corporate bond with a slightly higher interest rate, depending upon one's tax bracket. The taxable equivalent yield is the extra yield required on a corporate bond to equal the yield of a municipal bond. See also: Municipals-over-bonds spread, After-tax basis.