<ARTICLE> CT <CIK> 0000879555 <NAME> BOSTON CAPITAL TAX CREDIT FUND III LP <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> APR-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 120806543 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 0 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 120806543 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 183145 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (12229726) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (12046581) <EPS-PRIMARY> 0 <EPS-DILUTED> 0