What kind of yield must a taxable bond offer to match the tax-exempt yield of a municipal bond?

To determine the yield that a taxable bond must offer in order to match the tax-exempt yield of a municipal bond, the concept of tax-equivalent yield is crucial. The tax-equivalent yield adjusts the yield of the tax-exempt municipal bond so that it can be compared directly to a taxable bond's yield, taking into account the tax implications of the investment.

The tax-equivalent yield formula typically looks like this:

Tax-Equivalent Yield = Tax-Exempt Yield / (1 - Tax Rate)

This formula shows how much additional yield a taxable bond needs to provide in order to be equivalent to the lower yield of a tax-exempt bond when taxes are considered.

This concept is particularly important for investors in higher tax brackets, as they may find that even a lower yield from a municipal bond can be more beneficial after taxes than a higher yield from a taxable bond.

Other forms of yield, such as nominal yield, after-tax yield, and simple yield, do not provide the necessary context for adjusting rates based on tax implications. Therefore, the concept of tax-equivalent yield is the appropriate choice to answer the question effectively, as it specifically addresses the yield calculation necessary for comparing taxable bonds to tax-exempt municipal bonds.