<ARTICLE> CT <CIK> 0000879555 <NAME> BOSTON CAPITAL TAX CREIT FUND III L.P. <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 156,056,627 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 156,056,627 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 224,955 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (8,901,030) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (8,676,075) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0