Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
The Partnership	The Partnership: Del Taco Restaurant Properties III, a California limited partnership, (the Partnership) was formed on December 19, 1985, for the purpose of acquiring real property in California for construction of ten Mexican-American restaurants to be leased under long-term agreements to Del Taco LLC (General Partner or Del Taco) for operation under the Del Taco trade name. As of July 5, 1990, all ten restaurants had commenced operation on acquired properties. In November 1997, the Twentynine Palms property was sold yielding net proceeds of $278,612. In May 2011, the City of Industry property was destroyed by fire and then sold in December 2011 yielding net proceeds of $1,231,720. As of December 31, 2012, Del Taco Restaurant Properties III had eight properties in operation. The term of the partnership agreement is until December 31, 2025 unless terminated earlier by means provided in the partnership agreement. The Partnership has no full time employees (see Note 4). The Partnership agreement assigns full authority for general management and supervision of the business affairs of the Partnership to the General Partner. The General Partner has a one percent interest in the profits or losses and distributions of the Partnership. Limited partners have no right to participate in the day to day management or conduct of the Partnership’s business affairs. Distributions are made to the general and limited partners in accordance with the provisions of the partnership agreement (see Note 2).
Basis of Accounting	Basis of Accounting: The Partnership utilizes the accrual method of accounting for transactions relating to the business of the Partnership. The summary of significant accounting policies presented below is designed to assist in understanding the Partnership’s financial statements. Such financial statements and accompanying notes are the representations of the Partnership’s management, who is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These accounting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) in all material respects, and have been consistently applied in preparing the accompanying financial statements.
Property and Equipment	Property and Equipment: Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives which are 20 years for land improvements, 35 years for buildings and improvements, and 10 years for machinery and equipment. The Partnership accounts for property and equipment in accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board that requires long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. In evaluating long-lived assets held for use, an impairment loss is recognized if the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying value of the asset. Once a determination has been made that an impairment loss should be recognized for long-lived assets, various assumptions and estimates are used to determine fair value including, among others, estimated costs of construction and development, recent sales of comparable properties and the opinions of fair value prepared by independent real estate appraisers. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.
Income Taxes	Income Taxes: No provision has been made for federal or state income taxes on partnership net income, since the Partnership is not subject to income tax. Partnership income is includable in the taxable income of the individual partners as required under applicable income tax laws. Certain items, primarily related to depreciation methods, are accounted for differently for income tax reporting purposes (see Note 7).
Net Income Per Limited Partnership Unit	Net Income Per Limited Partnership Unit: The net income per limited partnership unit is based on net income attributable to the limited partners (after 1% allocation to the general partner) using the weighted average units outstanding during the periods presented which amounted to 47,261 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.
Use of Estimates	Use of Estimates: The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Revenue Recognition	Revenue Recognition: Rental revenue is recognized based on 12 percent of gross sales of the restaurants for the corresponding period, and is earned at the point of sale.
Concentration of Risk	Concentration of Risk: The eight restaurants leased to Del Taco make up all of the income producing assets of the Partnership and contributed all of the Partnership’s rental revenues for the three years ended December 31, 2012. Therefore, the business of the Partnership is entirely dependent on the success of the Del Taco trade name restaurants that lease the properties. The Partnership maintains substantially all of its cash and cash equivalents at one major commercial bank. Although the Partnership at times maintains balances that exceed the federally insured limit, it has not experienced any losses related to these balances and management believes the credit risk to be minimal.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments	Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The fair values of cash, accounts receivables, deposits, accounts payable and payables to limited partners approximate the carrying amounts due to their short maturities.
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events: Management has evaluated events subsequent to December 31, 2012 through the date the accompanying financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for transactions and other events that may require adjustment of and/or disclosure in such financial statements.

Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

The Partnership: Del Taco Restaurant Properties III, a California limited partnership, (the Partnership) was formed on December 19, 1985, for the purpose of acquiring real property in California for construction of ten Mexican-American restaurants to be leased under long-term agreements to Del Taco LLC (General Partner or Del Taco) for operation under the Del Taco trade name. As of July 5, 1990, all ten restaurants had commenced operation on acquired properties. In November 1997, the Twentynine Palms property was sold yielding net proceeds of $278,612. In May 2011, the City of Industry property was destroyed by fire and then sold in December 2011 yielding net proceeds of $1,231,720. As of December 31, 2012, Del Taco Restaurant Properties III had eight properties in operation. The term of the partnership agreement is until December 31, 2025 unless terminated earlier by means provided in the partnership agreement.

The Partnership has no full time employees (see Note 4). The Partnership agreement assigns full authority for general management and supervision of the business affairs of the Partnership to the General Partner. The General Partner has a one percent interest in the profits or losses and distributions of the Partnership. Limited partners have no right to participate in the day to day management or conduct of the Partnership’s business affairs.

Distributions are made to the general and limited partners in accordance with the provisions of the partnership agreement (see Note 2).

Basis of Accounting

Basis of Accounting: The Partnership utilizes the accrual method of accounting for transactions relating to the business of the Partnership. The summary of significant accounting policies presented below is designed to assist in understanding the Partnership’s financial statements. Such financial statements and accompanying notes are the representations of the Partnership’s management, who is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These accounting policies conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) in all material respects, and have been consistently applied in preparing the accompanying financial statements.

Property and Equipment

Property and Equipment: Property and equipment is stated at cost. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives which are 20 years for land improvements, 35 years for buildings and improvements, and 10 years for machinery and equipment.

The Partnership accounts for property and equipment in accordance with authoritative guidance issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board that requires long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. In evaluating long-lived assets held for use, an impairment loss is recognized if the sum of the expected future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges) is less than the carrying value of the asset. Once a determination has been made that an impairment loss should be recognized for long-lived assets, various assumptions and estimates are used to determine fair value including, among others, estimated costs of construction and development, recent sales of comparable properties and the opinions of fair value prepared by independent real estate appraisers. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of carrying amount or fair value less cost to sell.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes: No provision has been made for federal or state income taxes on partnership net income, since the Partnership is not subject to income tax. Partnership income is includable in the taxable income of the individual partners as required under applicable income tax laws. Certain items, primarily related to depreciation methods, are accounted for differently for income tax reporting purposes (see Note 7).

Net Income Per Limited Partnership Unit

Net Income Per Limited Partnership Unit: The net income per limited partnership unit is based on net income attributable to the limited partners (after 1% allocation to the general partner) using the weighted average units outstanding during the periods presented which amounted to 47,261 in 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates: The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition: Rental revenue is recognized based on 12 percent of gross sales of the restaurants for the corresponding period, and is earned at the point of sale.

Concentration of Risk

Concentration of Risk: The eight restaurants leased to Del Taco make up all of the income producing assets of the Partnership and contributed all of the Partnership’s rental revenues for the three years ended December 31, 2012. Therefore, the business of the Partnership is entirely dependent on the success of the Del Taco trade name restaurants that lease the properties.

The Partnership maintains substantially all of its cash and cash equivalents at one major commercial bank. Although the Partnership at times maintains balances that exceed the federally insured limit, it has not experienced any losses related to these balances and management believes the credit risk to be minimal.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Fair Value of Financial Instruments: The fair values of cash, accounts receivables, deposits, accounts payable and payables to limited partners approximate the carrying amounts due to their short maturities.

Subsequent Events

Subsequent Events: Management has evaluated events subsequent to December 31, 2012 through the date the accompanying financial statements were filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission for transactions and other events that may require adjustment of and/or disclosure in such financial statements.