<ARTICLE> CT <CIK> 0000879555 <NAME> BOSTON CAPITAL TAX CREDIT FUND III L.P. <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1997 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1997 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 134,987,523 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 134,987,523 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 132,299 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (12,374,172) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (12,241,873) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0