Legg Mason Partners Institutional Trust旗下Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves年度股东报告

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM N-CSR

CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED

MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES

Investment Company Act file number 811-06740

Legg Mason Partners Institutional Trust

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

One Madison Avenue, 17^th Floor, New York, NY 10010

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

Marc A. De Oliveira

Franklin Templeton

100 First Stamford Place

Stamford, CT 06902

(Name and address of agent for service)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 877-6LM-FUND/656-3863

Date of fiscal year end: August 31

Date of reporting period: August 31, 2026

(a) The Report to Shareholders is filed herewith

This annual shareholder report contains important information about Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves for the period September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026.
You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-625-4554, or 1-203-703-6002.

WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST YEAR? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

HOW DID THE FUND PERFORM LAST YEAR AND WHAT AFFECTED ITS PERFORMANCE?

As of August 31, 2026, the seven-day current yield for Select Shares of the Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves was 2.34% and the seven-day effective yield was 2.37%. The seven-day current yield represents net interest income generated by the Fund’s investments for the past seven days and assumes income is generated each week over a 365-day period. The seven-day effective yield assumes reinvestment of the coupon (interest payments) and will typically be slightly higher than the current yield because of the compounding effect on investment returns.

The Fund maintained a higher-quality bias and a shorter-duration profile during the reporting period, prioritizing liquidity. This positioning contributed to performance as yields moved higher.

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

For current month-end performance, please call Franklin Templeton at 1-800-625-4554, or 1-203-703-6002 or visit
https://www.franklintempleton.com/investments/options/money-market-funds.

KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of August 31, 2026)

WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of August 31, 2026)

Portfolio Composition (% of Total Investments)

HOUSEHOLDING

You will receive the Fund’s shareholder reports every six months. In addition, you will receive an annual updated summary prospectus (detail prospectus available upon request). To reduce Fund expenses, we try to identify related shareholders in a household and send only one copy of the shareholder reports and summary prospectus. This process, called “householding,” will continue indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you prefer not to have these documents householded, please call us at 1-800-625-4554, or 1-203-703-6002. At any time, you may view current prospectuses/summary prospectuses and shareholder reports on our website. If you choose, you may receive these documents through electronic delivery.

40.011.911.16.75.95.14.73.43.33.02.81.30.8

This annual shareholder report contains important information about Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves for the period September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026.
You can find additional information about the Fund at https://www.franklintempleton.com/regulatory-fund-documents. You can also request this information by contacting us at 1-800-625-4554, or 1-203-703-6002.

WHAT WERE THE FUND COSTS FOR THE LAST YEAR? (based on a hypothetical $10,000 investment)

HOW DID THE FUND PERFORM LAST YEAR AND WHAT AFFECTED ITS PERFORMANCE?

As of August 31, 2026, the seven-day current yield for Investor Shares of the Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves was 2.29% and the seven-day effective yield was 2.32%. The seven-day current yield represents net interest income generated by the Fund’s investments for the past seven days and assumes income is generated each week over a 365-day period. The seven-day effective yield assumes reinvestment of the coupon (interest payments) and will typically be slightly higher than the current yield because of the compounding effect on investment returns.

The Fund maintained a higher-quality bias and a shorter-duration profile during the reporting period, prioritizing liquidity. This positioning contributed to performance as yields moved higher.

The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

For current month-end performance, please call Franklin Templeton at 1-800-625-4554, or 1-203-703-6002 or visit
https://www.franklintempleton.com/investments/options/money-market-funds.

KEY FUND STATISTICS (as of August 31, 2026)

WHAT DID THE FUND INVEST IN? (as of August 31, 2026)

Portfolio Composition (% of Total Investments)

HOUSEHOLDING

You will receive the Fund’s shareholder reports every six months. In addition, you will receive an annual updated summary prospectus (detail prospectus available upon request). To reduce Fund expenses, we try to identify related shareholders in a household and send only one copy of the shareholder reports and summary prospectus. This process, called “householding,” will continue indefinitely unless you instruct us otherwise. If you prefer not to have these documents householded, please call us at 1-800-625-4554, or 1-203-703-6002. At any time, you may view current prospectuses/summary prospectuses and shareholder reports on our website. If you choose, you may receive these documents through electronic delivery.

40.011.911.16.75.95.14.73.43.33.02.81.30.8

(b) Not applicable

(a) The Registrant has adopted a code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer and principal financial officer.

(c) N/A

(d) N/A

(f) Pursuant to Item 19(a) (1), the Registrant is attaching as an exhibit a copy of its code of ethics that applies to its principal executive officer and principal financial officer.

The Board of Trustees of the Registrant has determined that Robert Abeles, Jr., possesses the technical attributes identified in Item 3 to Form N-CSR to qualify as an “audit committee financial expert,” and has designated Mr. Abeles, Jr. as the Audit Committee’s financial expert. Mr. Abeles, Jr. is an “independent” Trustee pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Item 3 to Form N-CSR.

Under applicable securities laws, a person determined to be an audit committee financial expert will not be deemed an “expert” for any purpose, including without limitation for the purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as a result of being designated or identified as an audit committee financial expert. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not impose on such person any duties, obligations, or liabilities greater than the duties, obligations, and liabilities imposed on such person as a member of the audit committee and board of directors in the absence of such designation or identification. The designation or identification of a person as an audit committee financial expert does not affect the duties, obligations, or liability of any other member of the audit committee or board of directors.

a) Audit Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the last two fiscal years ending August 28, 2025 and August 28, 2026 (the “Reporting Periods”) for professional services rendered by the Registrant’s principal accountant (the “Auditor”) for the audit of the Registrant’s annual financial statements, or services that are normally provided by the Auditor in connection with the statutory and regulatory filings or engagements for the Reporting Periods, were $184,053 in August 28, 2025 and $185,894 in August 28, 2026.

b) Audit-Related Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for assurance and related services by the Auditor that are reasonably related to the performance of the Registrant’s financial statements were $0 in August 28, 2025 and $0 in August 28, 2026.

(c) Tax Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for professional services rendered by the Auditor for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning (“Tax Services”) were $47,200 in August 28, 2025 and $47,200 in August 28, 2026. These services consisted of (i) review or preparation of U.S. federal, state, local and excise tax returns; (ii) U.S. federal, state and local tax planning, advice and assistance regarding statutory, regulatory or administrative developments, and (iii) tax advice regarding tax qualification matters and/or treatment of various financial instruments held or proposed to be acquired or held.

There were no fees billed for tax services by the Auditors to the Registrant’s investment manager and any entity controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the investment manager that provides ongoing services to the Registrant (“Service Affiliates”) during the Reporting Periods that required pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

d) All Other Fees. The aggregate fees billed in the Reporting Periods for products and services provided by the Auditor to the Registrant, other than the services reported in paragraphs (a) through (c) of this item, were $0 in August 28, 2025 and $0 in August 28, 2026.

There were no other non-audit services rendered by the Auditor to the Service Affiliates requiring pre-approval by the Audit Committee in the Reporting Periods.

(e) Audit Committee’s pre–approval policies and procedures described in paragraph (c) (7) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(1) The Charter for the Audit Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of each registered investment company (the “Fund”) advised by the Registrant’s investment manager or one of their affiliates (each, an “Adviser”) requires that the Committee shall approve (a) all audit and permissible non-audit services to be provided to the Fund and (b) all permissible non-audit services to be provided by the Fund’s independent auditors to the Adviser and any service providers controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provide ongoing services to the Fund (“Covered Service Providers”) if the engagement relates directly to the operations and financial reporting of the Fund. The Committee may implement policies and procedures by which such services are approved other than by the full Committee.

The Committee shall not approve non-audit services that the Committee believes may impair the independence of the auditors. As of the date of the approval of this Audit Committee Charter, permissible non-audit services include any professional services (including tax services), that are not prohibited services as described below, provided to the Fund by the independent auditors, other than those provided to the Fund in connection with an audit or a review of the financial statements of the Fund. Permissible non-audit services may not include: (i) bookkeeping or other services related to the accounting records or financial statements of the Fund; (ii) financial information systems design and implementation; (iii) appraisal or valuation services, fairness opinions or contribution-in-kind reports; (iv) actuarial services; (v) internal audit outsourcing services; (vi) management functions or human resources; (vii) broker or dealer, investment adviser or investment banking services; (viii) legal services and expert services unrelated to the audit; and (ix) any other service the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board determines, by regulation, is impermissible.

Pre-approval by the Committee of any permissible non-audit services is not required so long as: (i) the aggregate amount of all such permissible non-audit services provided to the Fund, the Adviser and the Covered Service Providers constitutes not more than 5% of the total amount of revenues paid to the independent auditors during the fiscal year in which the permissible non-audit services are provided to (a) the Fund, (b) the Adviser and (c) any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Adviser that provides ongoing services to the Fund during the fiscal year in which the services are provided that would have to be approved by the Committee; (ii) the permissible non-audit services were not recognized by the Fund at the time of the engagement to be non-audit services; and (iii) such services are promptly brought to the attention of the Committee and approved by the Committee (or its delegate(s)) prior to the completion of the audit.

(2) None of the services described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this Item were performed in reliance on paragraph (c)(7)(i)(C) of Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X.

(f) Not applicable.

(g) Non-audit fees billed by the Auditor for services rendered to the Registrant and the Service Affiliates during the reporting period were $334,889 in August 28, 2025 and $344,935 in August 28, 2026.

(h) Yes. The Registrant’s Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit services that were rendered to Service Affiliates, which were not pre-approved (not requiring pre-approval), is compatible with maintaining the Auditor’s independence. All services provided by the Auditor to the Registrant or to the Service Affiliates, which were required to be pre-approved, were pre-approved as required.

(i) Not applicable.

(j) Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Western Asset
Select Tax Free Reserves

Financial Statements and Other Important Information

Annual  | August 31, 2026

If you need assistance accessing this content, please reach out to your sales representative or send an email to [email protected].

Table of Contents

franklintempleton.com

Financial Statements and Other Important Information — Annual

Schedule of Investments

August 31, 2026

 Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)  

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

1

Schedule of Investments (cont’d)

August 31, 2026

 Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

See Notes to Financial Statements.

2

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

 Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

3

Schedule of Investments (cont’d)

August 31, 2026

 Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

See Notes to Financial Statements.

4

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

 Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

5

Schedule of Investments (cont’d)

August 31, 2026

 Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

(Percentages shown based on Fund net assets)

See Notes to Financial Statements.

6

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

 Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

7

Statement of Assets and Liabilities

August 31, 2026

See Notes to Financial Statements.

8

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended August 31, 2026

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

9

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

See Notes to Financial Statements.

10

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

Financial Highlights

See Notes to Financial Statements.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

11

Financial Highlights (cont’d)

See Notes to Financial Statements.

12

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

Notes to Financial Statements

1. Organization and significant accounting policies

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves (the “Fund”) is a separate non-diversified investment series of Legg Mason Partners Institutional Trust (the “Trust”). The Trust, a Maryland statutory trust, is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), as an open-end management investment company.

The Fund is a retail money market fund, meaning that the Fund is only offered to accounts that are beneficially owned solely by natural persons. As a retail money market fund, the Fund tries to maintain a share price of $1.00. Under Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act, the Fund must follow strict rules as to the credit quality, liquidity, diversification and maturity of its investments.

The Fund follows the accounting and reporting guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 946, Financial Services – Investment Companies (“ASC 946”). The following are significant accounting policies consistently followed by the Fund and are in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), including, but not limited to, ASC 946. Estimates and assumptions are required to be made regarding assets, liabilities and changes in net assets resulting from operations when financial statements are prepared. Changes in the economic environment, financial markets and any other parameters used in determining these estimates could cause actual results to differ. Subsequent events have been evaluated through the date the financial statements were issued.

(a) Investment valuation. In accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, money market instruments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value. This method involves valuing portfolio securities at their cost and thereafter assuming a constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium. The Fund’s use of amortized cost is subject to its compliance with certain conditions as specified by Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

Pursuant to policies adopted by the Board of Trustees (the “Board”), the Fund’s manager has been designated as the valuation designee and is responsible for the oversight of the daily valuation process. The Fund’s manager is assisted by the Global Fund Valuation Committee (the “Valuation Committee”). The Valuation Committee is responsible for making fair value determinations, evaluating the effectiveness of the Fund’s pricing policies, and reporting to the Board.

The Fund uses valuation techniques to measure fair value that are consistent with the market approach and/or income approach, depending on the type of security and the particular circumstance. The market approach uses prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable securities. The income approach uses valuation techniques to discount estimated future cash flows to present value.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

13

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

GAAP establishes a disclosure hierarchy that categorizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to value assets and liabilities at measurement date. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:

•

Level 1 — unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical investments

•

Level 2 — other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)

•

Level 3 — significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments) 

The inputs or methodologies used to value securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used in valuing the Fund’s assets carried at fair value:
 

(b) Security transactions and investment income. Security transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. Interest income (including interest income from payment-in-kind securities) is recorded on the accrual basis. Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on debt securities are recorded to interest income over the lives of the respective securities, except for premiums on certain callable debt securities, which are amortized to the earliest call date. The cost of investments sold is determined by use of the specific identification method.

(c) Distributions to shareholders. Distributions from net investment income of the Fund are declared each business day to shareholders of record and are paid monthly. The Fund intends to satisfy conditions that will enable interest from municipal securities, which is exempt from federal and certain state income taxes, to retain such tax-exempt status when distributed to the shareholders of the Fund. Distributions of net realized gains, if any, are taxable and are declared at least annually. Distributions to shareholders of the Fund are recorded on the ex-dividend date and are determined in accordance with income tax regulations, which may differ from GAAP.

(d) Share class accounting. Investment income, common expenses and realized gains (losses) on investments are allocated to the various classes of the Fund on the basis of daily net assets of each class. Fees relating to a specific class are charged directly to that share class.

14

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

(e) Federal and other taxes. It is the Fund’s policy to comply with the federal income and excise tax requirements of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), applicable to regulated investment companies. Accordingly, the Fund intends to distribute its taxable income and net realized gains, if any, to shareholders in accordance with timing requirements imposed by the Code. Therefore, no federal or state income tax provision is required in the Fund’s financial statements.

Management has analyzed the Fund’s tax positions taken on income tax returns for all open tax years and has concluded that as of August 31, 2026, no provision for income tax is required in the Fund’s financial statements. The Fund’s federal and state income and federal excise tax returns for the prior three fiscal years are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue.

Dividends paid by the Fund from net interest received on tax-exempt money market instruments are not includable by shareholders as gross income for federal tax purposes because the Fund intends to meet certain requirements of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies, including Subchapter M, which will enable the Fund to pay exempt-interest dividends. The portion of such interest, if any, earned on private activity bonds issued after August 7, 1986, may be considered a tax preference item to shareholders.

(f) Reclassification. GAAP requires that certain components of net assets be reclassified to reflect permanent differences between financial and tax reporting. These reclassifications have no effect on net assets or net asset value per share. During the current year, the Fund had no reclassifications.

2. Investment management agreement and other transactions with affiliates

Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, LLC (“FTFA”) is the Fund’s investment manager and Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset”) is the Fund’s subadviser. FTFA and Western Asset are indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of Franklin Templeton, Inc. (“Franklin Templeton”) (prior to August 17, 2026, known as Franklin Resources, Inc.).

Under the investment management agreement, the Fund pays an investment management fee, calculated daily and paid monthly, in accordance with the following breakpoint schedule:
 

FTFA provides administrative and certain oversight services to the Fund. FTFA delegates to the subadviser the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. For its services, FTFA pays Western Asset monthly 70% of the net management fee it receives from the Fund.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

15

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

As a result of expense limitation arrangements between the Fund and FTFA, the ratio of total annual fund operating expenses, other than interest, brokerage, taxes, extraordinary expenses and acquired fund fees and expenses, to average net assets of Select Shares and Investor Shares did not exceed 0.18% and 0.23%, respectively. These expense limitation arrangements cannot be terminated prior to December 31, 2026 without the Board’s consent. Additional amounts may be voluntarily waived and/or reimbursed from time to time.

During the year ended August 31, 2026, fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed amounted to $404,377.

FTFA is permitted to recapture amounts waived and/or reimbursed to a class during the same fiscal year if the class’ total annual fund operating expenses have fallen to a level below the expense limitation (“expense cap”) in effect at the time the fees were earned or the expenses incurred. In no case will FTFA recapture any amount that would result, on any particular business day of the Fund, in the class’ total annual fund operating expenses exceeding the expense cap or any other lower limit then in effect.

Franklin Distributors, LLC (“Franklin Distributors”) serves as the Fund’s sole and exclusive distributor. Franklin Distributors is an indirect, wholly-owned broker-dealer subsidiary of Franklin Templeton. 

All officers and one Trustee of the Trust are employees of Franklin Templeton or its affiliates and do not receive compensation from the Trust.

The Fund is permitted to purchase or sell short-term variable rate demand obligations from or to certain other affiliated funds or portfolios under specified conditions outlined in procedures adopted by the Board. The procedures have been designed to provide assurance that any purchase or sale of securities by the Fund from or to another fund or portfolio that is, or could be considered, an affiliate by virtue of having a common investment manager or subadviser (or affiliated investment manager or subadviser), common Trustees and/or common officers complies with Rule 17a-7 under the 1940 Act. Further, as defined under the procedures, each transaction is effected at the current market price. For the year ended August 31, 2026, such purchase and sale transactions (excluding accrued interest) were $60,280,000 and $143,590,000, respectively. There was no realized gain or loss recognized as a result of these transactions.

3. Class specific expenses, waivers and/or expense reimbursements

The Fund has adopted a Rule 12b-1 shareholder services and distribution plan and under that plan the Fund pays service and/or distribution fees with respect to its Investor Shares calculated at the annual rate not to exceed 0.10% of the average daily net assets. Service and/or distribution fees are accrued daily and paid monthly.

16

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

For the year ended August 31, 2026, class specific expenses were as follows:
 

For the year ended August 31, 2026, waivers and/or expense reimbursements by class were as follows:
 

4. Distributions to shareholders by class
 

5. Shares of beneficial interest

At August 31, 2026, the Trust had an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest authorized with a par value of $0.00001 per share. The Fund has the ability to issue multiple classes of shares. Each class of shares represents an identical interest and has the same rights, except that each class bears certain direct expenses, including those specifically related to the distribution of its shares.

Transactions in shares of each class were as follows:
 

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

17

Notes to Financial Statements (cont’d)

Because the Fund has maintained a $1.00 net asset value per share from inception, the number of shares sold, shares issued on reinvestment of dividends declared, and shares repurchased is equal to the dollar amount shown in the Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the corresponding fund share transactions.

6. Income tax information and distributions to shareholders

The tax character of distributions paid during the fiscal years ended August 31, was as follows:
 

As of August 31, 2026, the components of distributable earnings (loss) on a tax basis were as follows:
 

7. Operating segments

The Fund operates as a single operating segment, which is an investment portfolio. A management group assigned to the Fund within the Fund’s investment manager serves as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) and is responsible for evaluating the Fund’s operating results and allocating resources in accordance with the Fund’s investment strategy. Internal reporting provided to the CODM aligns with the accounting policies and measurement principles used in the financial statements.

For information regarding segment assets, segment profit or loss, and significant expenses, refer to the Statement of Assets and Liabilities and the Statement of Operations, along with the related Notes to Financial Statements. The Fund’s Schedule of Investments provides details of the Fund’s investments that generate returns such as interest, dividends, and realized gains or losses. Performance metrics, including expense ratios, are disclosed in the Financial Highlights.

18

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees of Legg Mason Partners Institutional Trust and Shareholders of Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities, including the schedule of investments, of Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves (one of the funds constituting Legg Mason Partners Institutional Trust, referred to hereafter as the “Fund”) as of August 31, 2026, the related statement of operations for the year ended August 31, 2026, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2026, including the related notes, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended August 31, 2026 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Fund as of August 31, 2026, the results of its operations for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period ended August 31, 2026 and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period ended August 31, 2026 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Fund’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Fund’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Fund in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of August 31, 2026 by correspondence with the custodian. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Baltimore, Maryland
October 22, 2026

We have served as the auditor of one or more investment companies in the Franklin Templeton Group of Funds since 1948.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves 2026 Annual Report

19

Important Tax Information (unaudited)

By mid-February, tax information related to a shareholder’s proportionate share of distributions paid during the preceding calendar year will be received, if applicable. Please also refer to www.franklintempleton.com for per share tax information related to any distributions paid during the preceding calendar year. Shareholders are advised to consult with their tax advisors for further information on the treatment of these amounts on their tax returns.

The following tax information for the Fund is required to be furnished to shareholders with respect to income earned and distributions paid during its fiscal year.

The Fund hereby reports the following amount, or if subsequently determined to be different, the maximum allowable amounts, for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2026:

20

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

21

Board Approval of Management and 

Subadvisory Agreements (unaudited)

The Executive and Contracts Committee of the Board of Trustees (the “Executive and Contracts Committee”) considered the Management Agreement between the Trust and Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, LLC (“FTFA”) with respect to the Fund and the subadvisory agreement between FTFA and Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset” or the “Subadviser”, and together with FTFA, the “Advisers”) with respect to the Fund (collectively, the “Agreements”) at a meeting held on April 22, 2026. At an in-person meeting held on May 19, 2026, the Executive and Contracts Committee reported to the full Board of Trustees their considerations and recommendation with respect to the Agreements, and the Board of Trustees, including a majority of the Independent Trustees, considered and approved renewal of the Agreements.

In arriving at their decision to approve the renewal of the Agreements, the Trustees met with representatives of the Advisers, including relevant investment advisory personnel; considered a variety of information prepared by the Advisers, materials provided by Broadridge and advice and materials provided by counsel to the Independent Trustees; reviewed performance and expense information for peer groups of comparable funds selected by Broadridge (the “Performance Universe”) and certain other comparable products available from Western Asset or affiliates of Western Asset, including separate accounts managed by Western Asset; and requested and reviewed additional information as necessary. These reviews were in addition to information obtained by the Trustees at their regular quarterly meetings (and various committee meetings) with respect to the Fund’s performance and other relevant matters and related discussions with the Advisers’ personnel. The information received and considered by the Board both in conjunction with the May meeting and at prior meetings was both written and oral. With respect to the Broadridge materials, the Board was provided with a description of the methodology used to determine the similarity of the Fund with the funds included in the Performance Universe. It was noted that while the Board found the Broadridge data generally useful they recognized its limitations, including that the data may vary depending on the end date selected and that the results of the performance comparisons may vary depending on the selection of the peer group and its composition over time.

As part of their review, the Trustees examined FTFA’s ability to provide high quality oversight and administrative and shareholder support services to the Fund and the Subadviser’s ability to provide high quality investment management services to the Fund. The Trustees considered the experience of FTFA’s personnel in providing the types of services that FTFA is responsible for providing to the Fund; the ability of FTFA to attract and retain capable personnel; and the capability and integrity of FTFA’s senior management and staff. The Trustees also considered the investment philosophy and research and decision-making processes of the Subadviser; the experience of their key advisory personnel responsible for management of the Fund; the ability of the Subadviser to attract and retain capable research and advisory personnel; the risks to the Advisers associated with

22

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

sponsoring the Fund (such as entrepreneurial, operational, reputational, litigation and regulatory risk), as well as FTFA’s and the Subadviser’s risk management processes; the capability and integrity of the Advisers’ senior management and staff; and the level of skill required to manage the Fund. In addition, the Trustees reviewed the quality of the Advisers’ services with respect to regulatory compliance and compliance with the investment policies of the Fund, and conditions that might affect the Advisers’ ability to provide high quality services to the Fund in the future, including their business reputations, financial conditions and operational stabilities. Based on the foregoing, the Trustees concluded that the Subadviser’s investment process, research capabilities and philosophy were well suited to the Fund given its investment objectives and policies, and that the Advisers would be able to meet any reasonably foreseeable obligations under the Agreements.

The Board reviewed the qualifications, backgrounds and responsibilities of FTFA’s and Western Asset’s senior personnel and the team of investment professionals primarily responsible for the day-to-day portfolio management of the Fund. The Board also considered, based on its knowledge of FTFA and its affiliates, the financial resources of Franklin Templeton, Inc. (prior to August 17, 2026, known as Franklin Resources, Inc.), the parent organization of the Advisers. The Board recognized the importance of having a fund manager with significant resources.

In reviewing the quality of the services provided to the Fund, the Trustees also reviewed comparisons of the performance of the Fund to the performance of certain comparable funds and to its investment benchmark over the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended December 31, 2025. The information comparing the Fund’s performance to that of its Performance Universe, consisting of all funds (including the Fund) classified as retail tax-exempt money market funds by Broadridge, showed, among other data, that the Fund’s performance for the 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-year periods ended December 31, 2025 was above the median. The Board noted that the Fund’s performance trailed the performance of its investment index for the 1-, 3- and 5-year periods ended December 31, 2025 and was approximately equal to the performance of its investment index for the 10-year period ended December 31, 2025. The Board considered the factors involved in the Fund’s performance relative to the performance of its investment index and Performance Universe.

The Trustees also considered the management fee payable by the Fund to FTFA, total expenses payable by the Fund and the fee that FTFA pays to the Subadviser. They reviewed information concerning management fees paid to investment advisers of similarly managed funds as well as fees paid by Western Asset’s other clients, including separate accounts managed by Western Asset. The Trustees also noted that the Fund does not pay any management fees directly to the Subadviser because FTFA pays the Subadviser for services provided to the Fund out of the management fee FTFA receives from the Fund. The information comparing the Fund’s Contractual and Actual Management Fees as well as its

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

23

Board Approval of Management and 

Subadvisory Agreements (unaudited) (cont’d)

actual total expense ratio to its peer group, consisting of a group of retail no-load tax-exempt money market funds (including the Fund) chosen by Broadridge to be comparable to the Fund, showed that the Fund’s Contractual Management Fee was above the median and its Actual Management Fee was below the median. The Board noted that the Fund’s actual total expense ratio was below the median. The Board also considered that the current limitation on the Fund’s expenses is expected to continue through December 2026.

The Trustees further evaluated the benefits of the advisory relationship to the Advisers, including, among others, the profitability of the relationship to the Advisers; the direct and indirect benefits that the Advisers may receive from their relationships with the Fund, including the “fallout benefits,” such as reputational value derived from serving as investment adviser to the Fund; and the affiliation between the Advisers and certain other service providers for the Fund. In that connection, the Board considered that the ancillary benefits that the Advisers receive were reasonable. The Trustees noted that Western Asset does not have soft dollar arrangements.

Finally, the Trustees considered, in light of the profitability information provided by the Advisers, the extent to which economies of scale would be realized by the Advisers as the assets of the Fund grow. The Board noted that the Fund’s Contractual Management Fee was above the median of the peer group and its Actual Management Fee was below the median of the peer group. The Board also noted the size of the Fund.

In their deliberations with respect to these matters, the Independent Trustees were advised by their independent counsel, who is independent, within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Commission rules regarding the independence of counsel, of the Advisers. The Independent Trustees weighed the foregoing matters in light of the advice given to them by their independent counsel as to the law applicable to the review of investment advisory contracts. In arriving at a decision, the Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, did not identify any single matter as all-important or controlling, and each Trustee may have attributed different weight to the various factors in evaluating the Agreements. The foregoing summary does not detail all the matters considered. The Trustees judged the terms and conditions of the Agreements, including the investment advisory fees, in light of all of the surrounding circumstances.

Based upon their review, the Trustees, including all of the Independent Trustees, determined, in the exercise of their business judgment, that they were satisfied with the quality of investment advisory services being provided by the Advisers; that the fees to be paid to the Advisers under the Agreements were fair and reasonable given the scope and quality of the services rendered by the Advisers; and that approval of the Agreements was in the best interest of the Fund and its shareholders.

24

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

(This page intentionally left blank.)

(This page intentionally left blank.)

(This page intentionally left blank.)

(This page intentionally left blank.)

Western Asset

Select Tax Free Reserves

Trustees

Robert Abeles, Jr.

Jane F. Dasher

Anita L. DeFrantz

Susan B. Kerley

Michael Larson

Avedick B. Poladian

William E.B. Siart
Chair

Jaynie M. Studenmund

Peter J. Taylor

Jane Trust

Investment manager

Franklin Templeton Fund Adviser, LLC

Subadviser

Western Asset Management Company, LLC

Distributor

Franklin Distributors, LLC

Custodian

The Bank of New York Mellon

Transfer agent

BNY Mellon Investment
Servicing (US) Inc.
500 Ross Street, 154-0520
Pittsburgh, PA 15262

Independent registered
public accounting firm

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Baltimore, MD

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves

The Fund is a separate investment series of Legg Mason Partners Institutional Trust, a Maryland statutory trust.

Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves
Legg Mason Funds
One Madison Avenue, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10010

The Fund files its complete schedule of portfolio holdings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) each month on Form N-MFP. The Fund’s reports on Form N-MFP are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. The Fund makes portfolio holdings available to shareholders on its website at www.franklintempleton.com.

Information on how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities during the prior 12-month period ended June 30th of each year and a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund uses to determine how to vote proxies related to portfolio transactions are available (1) without charge, upon request, by calling the Fund at 1-800-625-4554 or 1-203-703-6002, (2) at www.franklintempleton.com and (3) on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

This report is submitted for the general information of the shareholders of Western Asset Select Tax Free Reserves. This report is not authorized for distribution to prospective investors in the Fund unless preceded or accompanied by a current prospectus.

Investors should consider the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other important information about the Fund. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

www.franklintempleton.com

© 2026 Franklin Distributors, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.

90127-AFSOI 10/26

© 2026 Franklin Templeton. All rights reserved.

The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.

The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.

The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR.

The information is disclosed as part of the Financial Statements included in Item 7 of this Form N-CSR, as applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

There have been no changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the Registrant’s Board of Trustees that would require disclosure herein.

Not applicable.

(a) (1) Code of Ethics attached hereto.

Exhibit 99.CODE ETH

(a) (3) Certifications pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.

Exhibit 99.CERT

(b) Certifications pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 attached hereto.

Exhibit 99.906CERT

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, there unto duly authorized.

Legg Mason Partners Institutional Trust

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.