Final answer:
If a taxpayer purchases tax-exempt bonds at a premium, the premium is added to the basis of the tax-exempt bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a taxpayer purchases tax-exempt bonds at a premium, the treatment of the premium is that it is added to the basis of the tax-exempt bonds. This means that the premium paid for the bonds increases the taxpayer's cost or investment in the bonds, which can affect the tax consequences when the bonds are sold or redeemed.