<ARTICLE> CT <CIK> 0000879555 <NAME> BOSTON CAPITAL TAX CREDIT FUND III L.P. <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1997 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 150,732,639 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 150,732,639 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 342,091 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (12,997,821) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (12,655,730) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0