SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13D Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. 27) Excelsior Income Shares, Inc. (Name of Issuer) Common Stock (Title of Class of Securities) 300723103 (CUSIP Number) George W. Karpus, President Karpus Management Inc., d/b/a Karpus Investment Management 14 Tobey Village Office Park Pittsford, New York 14534 (716) 586-4680 (Name, Address, and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) January 8, 2001 (Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement) If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition which is subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of Rule 13d-1 (b) (3) or (4), check the following box. [x] (Page 1 of 4 ) ITEM 1 Security and Issuer Common Stock Excelsior Income Shares, Inc. ("EIS") 114 W. 47th Street, 8th Floor New York, NY 10036-1532 ITEM 2 Identity and Background a) Karpus Management, Inc. d/b/a/ Karpus Investment Management ("KIM") George W. Karpus, President, Director, and controlling stockholder JoAnn Van DeGriff, Vice President and Director Sophie Karpus, Director b) 14 Tobey Village Office Park Pittsford, New York 14534 c) Principal business and occupation - Investment Management for individuals, pension and profit sharing plans, corporations, endowments, trusts and others, specializing in conservative asset management ( i.e. fixed income investments ). d) None of George W. Karpus, JoAnn Van DeGriff or Sophie Karpus ( the "Principals") or KIM has been convicted in the past 5 years of any criminal proceeding as a result of which any of them is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws. e) Each of the Principals is a United States Citizen. KIM is a New York corporation. ITEM 3 Source and Amount of Funds or Other Considerations KIM, an independent investment advisor, has accumulated 148,227 shares of EIS on behalf of accounts that are managed by KIM ("the Accounts") under limited powers of attorney which represents 6.83% of the outstanding shares. All funds that have been utilized in making such purchases are from such accounts. ITEM 4 Purpose of Transaction KIM has purchased Shares for investment purposes. Being primarily a conservative, fixed income manager, with a specialty focus in the closed end fund sector, the profile of EIS ( being a conservative investment grade fund) fit the investment guidelines for various Accounts. ITEM 5 Interest in Securities of the Issuer a) As of the date of this Report, KIM owns 148,227 shares which represent 6.83% of the outstanding Shares. Karpus Investment Management Profit Sharing Plan presently owns 300 shares purchased on June 29, 1995 at $16.125 (100 shares) and 400 shares at $16.125 on June 30, 1995. On April 19, 2000, 200 shares were sold at $14.50 per share. None of the Principals presently own shares. b) KIM has the sole power to dispose of and to vote all such Shares under limited powers of attorney. c) Open market purchases or sales in the last 60 days for the Accounts. There have been no dispositions and no acquisitions, other than by such open market purchases during such time period. Date Shares Price Per Date Shares Price Per Share Share 11/30/00 1000 15.625 12/1/00 1500 15.625 12/4/00 1500 15.625 12/5/00 500 15.625 The Accounts have the right to receive all dividends from, and any proceeds from the sale of, the Shares. None of the Accounts has an interest in Shares constituting more than 5% of the Shares outstanding. ITEM 6 Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings, or Relationships with Respect to Securities of the Issuer. Except as described above, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships of any kind among the Principals and KIM and between any of them and any other person with respect to any of the EIS Securities. ITEM 7 Materials to be Filed as Exhibits Not applicable. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Karpus Management, Inc. January 8, 2001 By: ______________________ Date Signature Scott D. Nasca, Vice President Name / Title