<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
This article  contains  summary  financial  information  extracted from the year
ended March 30, 2000 Form 10-K Balance Sheet and Statement of Operations  and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                                                 0000856135
<NAME>                    American Tax Credit Properties III L.P.
<MULTIPLIER>                                               1,000
<CURRENCY>                                            US Dollars

                                   
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                Year
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                     MAR-30-2000
<PERIOD-START>                                        MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                          MAR-30-2000
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                              1.00
<CASH>                                                        874
<SECURITIES>                                                2,453
<RECEIVABLES>                                                  17
<ALLOWANCES>                                                    0
<INVENTORY>                                                     0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                            3,343
<PP&E>                                                          0
<DEPRECIATION>                                                  0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  0
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                       7,580
<BONDS>                                                     2,435
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                           0
<PREFERRED>                                                     0
<COMMON>                                                        0
<OTHER-SE>                                                      0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                5,145
<SALES>                                                     7,580
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                              247
<CGS>                                                           0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                   0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                            2,283
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                              0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                            (2,036)
<INCOME-TAX>                                                    0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                             0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                 0
<CHANGES>                                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                               (2,036)
<EPS-BASIC>                                                     0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                   0