<ARTICLE> CT <CIK> 0000879555 <NAME> BOSTON CAPITAL TAX CREDIT FUND III LIMITED PARTNERSHIP <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-2001 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-2000 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-2000 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 100,871,416 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 100,871,416 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 66,391 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (6,032,851) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (5,966,460) <EPS-BASIC> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0