November 14, 2002




Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20549

         Boston Financial Tax Credit Fund VIII, A Limited Partnership
         Report on Form 10-QSB for the Quarter Ended September 30, 2002
         File Number 0-26522


Dear Sir/Madam:

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, filed herewith is a copy of subject report.


Very truly yours,


/s/Stephen Guilmette
Stephen Guilmette
Assistant Controller




TC8-Q2.DOC






                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-QSB


(Mark One)

[ X ]     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
          EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended                    September 30, 2002
                              -------------------------------------------------

                                       OR

[   ]     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
          EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the transition period from                    to
                               ------------------   ---------------------------

                         Commission file number 0-26522

          Boston Financial Tax Credit Fund VIII, A Limited Partnership
        ----------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



 Massachusetts                                04-3205879
- ----------------------------------  -------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 incorporation or organization)


   101 Arch Street, Boston, Massachusetts              02110-1106
- ---------------------------------------------       ---------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)             (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code   (617) 439-3911
                                                  -----------------------------

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
                                   Yes X No .





                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS





                                                                                        
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                                              Page No.
- ------------------------------                                                              --------

Item 1.  Financial Statements

         Balance Sheet (Unaudited) - September 30, 2002                                         1

         Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - For the Three and Six
            Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001                                            2

         Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity (Deficiency) (Unaudited) -
            For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2002                                         3

         Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - For the Six
            Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001                                            4

         Notes to the Financial Statements (Unaudited)                                          5

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
         Condition and Results of Operations                                                    6

Item 3.  Controls and Procedures                                                                9

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Items 1-6                                                                                      10

SIGNATURE                                                                                      11

CERTIFICATIONS                                                                                 12





                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)


                                  BALANCE SHEET
                               September 30, 2002
                                  (Unaudited)




                                                                                             
Assets

Cash and cash equivalents                                                                        $     169,428
Marketable securities, at fair value                                                                   162,016
Investments in Local Limited Partnerships (Note 1)                                                  15,591,387
Other assets                                                                                             1,347
                                                                                                 -------------
   Total Assets                                                                                  $  15,924,178
                                                                                                 =============

Liabilities and Partners' Equity

Accounts payable to affiliates                                                                   $     440,609
Accrued expenses                                                                                        27,034
                                                                                                 -------------
   Total Liabilities                                                                                   467,643
                                                                                                 --------------

General, Initial and Investor Limited Partners' Equity                                              15,450,279
Net unrealized gains on marketable securities                                                            6,256             Total
                                                                                                 -------------
Partners' Equity                                                                                    15,456,535
                                                                                                 --------------
   Total Liabilities and Partners' Equity                                                        $  15,924,178
                                                                                                 =============




                 The accompanying notes are an integral part of
                          these financial statements.


                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
         For the Three and Six Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001
                                   (Unaudited)




                                                                                      
                                                 Three Months Ended                      Six Months Ended
                                             September 30,     September 30,      September 30,      September 30,
                                                 2002              2001               2002               2001
                                           ---------------    -------------      --------------    ---------------
Revenue:
   Investment                             $          3,851    $      15,689      $       20,537    $        37,391
   Other                                               100              300               1,360                850
                                          ----------------    -------------      --------------    ---------------
       Total Revenue                                 3,951           15,989              21,897             38,241
                                          ----------------    -------------      --------------    ---------------

Expenses:
   Asset management fees, affiliates                55,317           54,446             110,634            108,892
   General and administrative (includes
     reimbursements to an affiliate in the
     amounts of $34,522 and $22,408
     in 2002 and 2001, respectively)                39,788           22,383              76,113             55,612
   Provision for valuation of advances
     to Local Limited Partnerships                       -          240,252                   -            483,103
   Amortization                                      7,486            7,486              14,972             14,972
                                          ----------------    -------------      --------------    ---------------
       Total Expenses                              102,591          324,567             201,719            662,579
                                          ----------------    -------------      --------------    ---------------

Loss before equity in losses of
   Local Limited Partnerships                      (98,640)        (308,578)           (179,822)          (624,338)

Equity in losses of Local
   Limited Partnerships (Note 1)                  (508,282)        (767,869)           (956,532)        (1,232,561)
                                          ----------------    -------------      --------------    ---------------

Net Loss                                  $       (606,922)   $  (1,076,447)     $   (1,136,354)        (1,856,899)
                                          ================    =============      ==============     ==============

Net Loss allocated
   General Partner                        $         (6,070)   $     (10,765)     $      (11,364)    $      (18,569)
   Limited Partners                               (600,852)      (1,065,682)         (1,124,990)        (1,838,330)
                                          ----------------    -------------      --------------    ---------------
                                          $       (606,922)   $  (1,076,447)     $   (1,136,354)   $    (1,856,899)
                                          ================    =============      ==============    ===============

Net Loss per Limited
Partner Unit (36,497 Units)               $        (16.46)    $      (29.20)     $      (30.82)    $        (50.37)
                                          ===============     =============      =============     ===============





                 The accompanying notes are an integral part of
                          these financial statements.

                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

              STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
                   For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2002
                                   (Unaudited)




                                                                                   
                                                    Initial          Investor           Net
                                     General        Limited           Limited       Unrealized
                                      Partner       Partner          Partners          Gains           Total
                                    -----------    ---------      --------------    -----------    ------------

Balance at March 31, 2002           $  (150,481)   $     100      $   16,737,014    $    14,109    $  16,600,742
                                    -----------    ---------      --------------    -----------    -------------

Comprehensive Loss:
   Change in net unrealized gains
     on marketable securities
     available for sale                       -            -                   -         (7,853)          (7,853)
     Net Loss                           (11,364)           -          (1,124,990)             -       (1,136,354)
                                    -----------    ---------      --------------    -----------    -------------
Comprehensive Loss                      (11,364)           -          (1,124,990)        (7,853)      (1,144,207)
                                    -----------    ---------      --------------    -----------    -------------

Balance at September 30, 2002       $  (161,845)   $     100      $   15,612,024    $     6,256    $  15,456,535
                                    ===========    =========      ==============    ===========    =============




                 The accompanying notes are an integral part of
                          these financial statements.

                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
              For the Six Months Ended September 30, 2002 and 2001
                                   (Unaudited)





                                                                                                
                                                                                    2002              2001
                                                                                -------------    -------------

Net cash used for operating activities                                          $    (400,256)   $     (63,026)

Net cash provided by investing activities                                             512,114          107,432
                                                                                -------------    -------------

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                             111,858           44,406
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                                         57,570           80,578
                                                                                -------------    -------------

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                        $     169,428    $     124,984
                                                                                =============    =============







                 The accompanying notes are an integral part of
                          these financial statements.


                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)


                          Notes to Financial Statements
                                   (Unaudited)


The unaudited financial statements presented herein have been prepared in
accordance with the instructions to Form 10-QSB and do not include all of the
information and note disclosures required by accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America. These statements should be read in
conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included with the
Fund's Form10-KSB for the year ended March 31, 2002. In the opinion of
management, these financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only
of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Fund's
financial position and results of operations. The results of operations for the
periods may not be indicative of the results to be expected for the year.

The Managing General Partner of the Fund has elected to report results of the
Local Limited Partnerships in which the Fund has a limited partnership interest,
on a 90 day lag basis because the Local Limited Partnerships report their
results on a calendar year basis. Accordingly, the financial information about
the Local Limited Partnerships that is included in the accompanying financial
statements is as of June 30, 2002 and 2001.

1.   Investments in Local Limited Partnerships

The Fund has limited partnership interests in ten Local Limited Partnerships
which were organized for the purpose of owning and operating multi-family
housing complexes, all of which are government-assisted. Upon dissolution of the
Local Limited Partnerships, proceeds will be distributed according to the
respective Local Limited Partnership agreements.

The following is a summary of investments in Local Limited Partnerships at
September 30, 2002:



                                                                                                
Capital contributions and advances paid to Local Limited Partnerships                              $  30,400,092

Cumulative equity in losses of Local Limited Partnerships                                            (13,679,136)

Cumulative cash distributions received from Local Limited Partnerships                                  (826,655)
                                                                                                   ------------- -

Investments in Local Limited Partnerships before adjustments                                          15,894,301

Excess of investment costs over the underlying net assets acquired:

     Acquisition fees and expenses                                                                     1,048,010

     Accumulated amortization of acquisition fees and expenses                                          (215,691)
                                                                                                   -------------

Investments in Local Limited Partnerships prior to reserve for valuation                              16,726,620

Reserve for valuation of investments in Local Limited Partnerships                                    (1,135,233)
                                                                                                   -------------

Investments in Local Limited Partnerships                                                          $  15,591,387
                                                                                                   =============



The Fund has provided a reserve for valuation for its investments in certain
Local Limited Partnerships because there is evidence of non-temporary declines
in the recoverable amount of these investments.

The Fund's share of net losses of the Local Limited Partnerships for the six
months ended September 30, 2002 is $956,532.


                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


Certain matters discussed herein constitute forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Fund
intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor
provisions for forward-looking statements and is including this statement for
purposes of complying with these safe harbor provisions. Although the Fund
believes the forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, the
Fund can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Actual
results and timing of certain events could differ materially from those
projected in or contemplated by the forward-looking statements due to a number
of factors, including, without limitation, general economic and real estate
conditions and interest rates.

Accounting Polices

The Fund's accounting polices include those that relate to its recognition of
investments in Local Limited Partnerships using the equity method of accounting.
The Fund's policy is as follows:

The Fund accounts for its investments in Local Limited Partnerships using the
equity method of accounting because the Fund does not have control of the major
operating and financial policies of the Local Limited Partnerships in which it
invests. Under the equity method, the investment is carried at cost, adjusted
for the Fund's share of net income or loss and for cash distributions from the
Local Limited Partnerships; equity in income or loss of the Local Limited
Partnerships is included currently in the Fund's operations. Under the equity
method, a Local Limited Partnership investment will not be carried below zero.
To the extent that equity in losses are incurred when the Fund's carrying value
of the respective Local Limited Partnership has been reduced to a zero balance,
the losses will be suspended and offset against future income. Income from Fund
investments where cumulative equity in losses plus cumulative distributions have
exceeded the total investment in Local Limited Partnerships will not be recorded
until all of the related unrecorded losses have been offset. To the extent that
a Local Limited Partnership with a carrying value of zero distributes cash to
the Fund, that distribution is recorded as income on the books of the Fund and
is included in "Other Revenue" in the accompanying financial statements.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At September 30, 2002, the Fund had cash and cash equivalents of $169,428, as
compared to $57,570 at March 31, 2002. This increase is primarily attributable
to cash distributions received from Local Limited Partnerships and proceeds from
sales and maturities of marketable securities. These increases were partially
offset by cash used for operations.

The Managing General Partner initially designated 5% of the Gross Proceeds as
Reserves, as defined in the Partnership Agreement. The Reserves were established
to be used for working capital of the Fund and contingencies related to the
ownership of Local Limited Partnership interests. The Managing General Partner
may increase or decrease such Reserves from time to time, as it deems
appropriate. At September 30, 2002, on a cash basis, approximately $331,000 of
cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities has been designated as
Reserves. As of September 30, 2002, net claims against these Reserves total
approximately $466,000 making Reserves available after claims $0.

To date, professional fees relating to various Property issues totaling
approximately $35,000 have been paid from Reserves. In the event a Local Limited
Partnership encounters operating difficulties requiring additional funds, the
Fund's management might deem it in its best interest to voluntarily provide such
funds in order to protect its investment. As of September 30, 2002, the Fund has
advanced approximately $1,135,000 to Local Limited Partnerships to fund
operating deficits.




                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)


                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
            FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)


Liquidity and Capital Resources (continued)
- ------------------------------------------

The Managing General Partner believes that the investment income earned on the
Reserves, along with cash distributions received from Local Limited
Partnerships, to the extent available, will be sufficient to fund the Fund's
ongoing operations. Reserves may be used to fund Partnership operating deficits,
if the Managing General Partner deems funding appropriate. To date, the Fund has
used approximately $323,000 of Reserves to fund operations. If Reserves are not
adequate to cover the Fund's operations, the Fund will seek other financing
sources including, but not limited to, the deferral of Asset Management Fees
paid to an affiliate of the Managing General Partner or working with Local
Limited Partnerships to increase cash distributions.

Since the Fund invests as a limited partner, the Fund has no contractual duty to
provide additional funds to Local Limited Partnerships beyond its specified
investment. Thus, as of September 30, 2002, the Fund had no contractual or other
obligation to any Local Limited Partnership which had not been paid or provided
for.

Cash Distributions

No cash distributions were made during the six months ended September 30, 2002.

Results of Operations

Three Month Period

For the three months ended September 30, 2002, the Fund's operations resulted in
a net loss of $606,922, as compared to a net loss of $1,076,447 for the three
months ended September 30, 2001. The decrease in net loss is primarily
attributable to a decrease in provision for valuation of investments in Local
Limited Partnerships due to advances made in the prior year to certain
properties that required operating funds.

Six Month Period

For the six months ended September 30, 2002, the Fund's operations resulted in a
net loss of $1,136,354, as compared to $1,856,899 for the six months ended
September 30, 2001. The decrease in net loss is primarily attributable to a
decrease in provision for valuation of investments in Local Limited Partnerships
due to advances made in the prior year to certain properties that required
operating funds.

Property Discussions

The Fund's investment portfolio consists of limited partnership interests in ten
Local Limited Partnerships, each of which owns and operates a multi-family
apartment complex. A majority of the Properties have stabilized operations and
operate above break-even. A few Properties generate cash flow deficits that the
Local General Partners of those Properties fund through project expenses loans,
subordinated loans or operating escrows. However, some properties have
persistent operating difficulties that could either: i) have an adverse impact
on the Fund's liquidity; ii) result in their foreclosure or iii) result in the
Managing General Partner deeming it appropriate for the Fund to dispose of its
interest in the Local Limited Partnership. Also, the Managing General Partner,
in the normal course of the Fund's business, may desire to dispose certain Local
Limited Partnerships. The following Property discussion focuses only on such
Properties.



                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
            FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued)


Property Discussions (continued)
- -------------------------------

Live Oaks Plantation, located in West Palm Beach, Florida, has historically
generated operating deficits due to difficulty in attracting and maintaining
quality tenants. In addition, the Property's curb appeal has diminished due to
the deferral of certain maintenance and repair projects. During the fourth
quarter of 2000, the Local General Partner indicated a desire to transfer its
interest in the Local Limited Partnership to a replacement Local General
Partner. The General Partner believes that it would be in the best interests of
the Property to replace the Local General Partner. Accordingly, the General
Partner has been working with the Local General Partner to identify an
acceptable replacement. In conjunction with the potential transfer, the Local
General Partner agreed to replace his affiliated on-site management company, and
in February 2001, a new on-site management company began managing Property
operations. The Fund has also advanced a significant amount of Reserves to the
Local Limited Partnership to fund capital improvements and deferred maintenance
expenses. As a result of the change in site management and the capital
improvements made to the Property, the Property's operations have improved
significantly.

Live Oaks Plantation is undergoing an audit by the Internal Revenue Service
("IRS"). The audit's focus is on the tax treatment of certain items, such as
land improvements, impact fees, utility fees and developer fees. In April 2002,
the Florida office of the IRS issued their report indicating an eligible basis
reduction of approximately $1,000,000, which would reduce the amount of tax
credits and losses generated by the property. The Managing General Partner
believes that this is an aggressive stance taken by the Florida office of the
IRS given a recent memorandum issued by the Washington D.C. office of the IRS
that explicitly allowed the inclusion of impact fees in determining total
eligible basis. Impact fees represent approximately $470,000 of the reduction.
The Local General Partner filed an appeal of the IRS's decision. As a result of
the IRS audit, negotiations to replace the Local General Partner have been
delayed.

The Fund has implemented policies and practices for assessing potential
impairment of its investments in Local Limited Partnerships. Real estate experts
analyze the investments to determine if impairment indicators exist. If so, the
carrying value is compared to the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be
derived from the asset. If a significant impairment in carrying value exists, a
provision to write down the asset to fair value will be recorded in the Fund's
financial statements.



                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

                             CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES



Controls and Procedures

Based on the Fund's evaluation within 90 days prior to filing this Form 10-QSB,
the Fund's director has concluded that the Fund's disclosure controls and
procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in
the reports that the Fund files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods
specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

There have been no significant changes in the Fund's internal controls or in
other factors that could significantly affect those controls subsequent to the
date of their evaluation.




                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)



PART II       OTHER INFORMATION

Items 1-5     Not applicable

Item 6        Exhibits and reports on Form 8-K

                (a)  Exhibits

                     99.1   Certification of Jenny Netzer pursuant to section
                            906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

                (b)  Reports on Form 8-K - No reports on Form 8-K were filed
                     during the quarter ended September 30, 2002.



                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


DATED:  November 14, 2002        BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII,
                                 A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                 By:   Arch Street VIII Limited Partnership,
                                       its General Partner



                                       /s/Jenny Netzer
                                       ------------------------------------
                                       Jenny Netzer
                                       Principal, Head of Housing and
                                       Community Investment




                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

I, Jenny Netzer, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB of Boston Financial Tax
Credit Fund VIII:

2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
     make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
     statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
     this quarterly report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
     information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all
     material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
     flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
     quarterly report;

4.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

a.       designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that
         material information relating to the registrant, including its
         consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those
         entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report
         is being prepared;

b.       evaluated the  effectiveness of the registrant's  disclosure  controls
         and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the
         filing date of this quarterly report (the "Evaluation Date"); and

c.       presented in this quarterly report our conclusions  about the
         effectiveness  of the disclosure  controls and procedures based
         on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on
     our most recent evaluation, to the registrant's auditors and the audit
     committee of registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the
     equivalents functions):

a.       all  significant  deficiencies  in the design or operation of internal
         controls  which could  adversely  affect  registrant's  ability to
         record,  process,  summarize  and report  financial  data and have
         identified  for the  registrant's  auditors any material weaknesses in
         internal controls; and

b.       any  fraud,  whether  or not  material,  that  involves  management
         or other  employees  who have a  significant  role in the
         registrant's internal controls; and

6.   The registrant's other certifying officers and I have indicated in this
     quarterly report whether or not there were significant changes in internal
     controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal
     controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including
     any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material
     weaknesses.


Date:     November 14, 2002             /s/Jenny Netzer
                                        -----------------------------------
                                        Jenny Netzer
                                        Principal, Head of Housing and
                                        Community Investment



                      BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII
                             (A Limited Partnership)

                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                    AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE
                           SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Quarterly Report of Boston Financial Tax Credit Fund VIII
("the Fund") on Form 10-QSB for the period ending September 30, 2002 as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
the undersigned, the Principal, hereby certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section
1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
that:

1.   the Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d)
     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

2.   the information  contained in the Report fairly presents,  in all material
     respects,  the financial  condition and results of  operations of the Fund.



                                        /s/Jenny Netzer
                                        --------------------------------------
                                        Jenny Netzer
                                        Principal, Head of Housing and
                                        Community Investment

                                        Date:  November 14, 2002