Introduction	6 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting [Text Block]	The unaudited financial statements presented herein have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included with the Annual Report on Form10-K of Boston Financial Tax Credit Fund VIII, a Limited Partnership (the “Fund”) for the year ended March 31, 2012. In the opinion of the general partner of the Fund, Arch Street VIII, Inc. (the “General Partner”), these financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Fund's financial position and results of operations. The results of operations for the periods may not be indicative of the results to be expected for the year. The General Partner has elected to report results of the Local Limited Partnerships on a 90-day lag basis because the Local Limited Partnerships report their results on a calendar year basis. Accordingly, the financial information of the Local Limited Partnerships that is included in the accompanying financial statements is as of June 30, 2012 and 2011 and for the six months then ended. Generally, profits, losses, tax credits and cash flows from operations are allocated 99% to the Limited Partners and 1% to the General Partner. Net proceeds from a sale or refinancing will be allocated 95% to the Limited Partners and 5% to the General Partner, after certain priority payments. The General Partner may have an obligation to fund deficits in its capital account, subject to limits set forth in the Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”). However, to the extent that the General Partner’s capital account is in a deficit position, certain items of net income may be allocated to the General Partner in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.

Introduction

6 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2012

The unaudited financial statements presented herein have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and note disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included with the Annual Report on Form10-K of Boston Financial Tax Credit Fund VIII, a Limited Partnership (the “Fund”) for the year ended March 31, 2012. In the opinion of the general partner of the Fund, Arch Street VIII, Inc. (the “General Partner”), these financial statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Fund's financial position and results of operations. The results of operations for the periods may not be indicative of the results to be expected for the year.

The General Partner has elected to report results of the Local Limited Partnerships on a 90-day lag basis because the Local Limited Partnerships report their results on a calendar year basis. Accordingly, the financial information of the Local Limited Partnerships that is included in the accompanying financial statements is as of June 30, 2012 and 2011 and for the six months then ended.

Generally, profits, losses, tax credits and cash flows from operations are allocated 99% to the Limited Partners and 1% to the General Partner. Net proceeds from a sale or refinancing will be allocated 95% to the Limited Partners and 5% to the General Partner, after certain priority payments. The General Partner may have an obligation to fund deficits in its capital account, subject to limits set forth in the Fund’s Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership (the “Partnership Agreement”). However, to the extent that the General Partner’s capital account is in a deficit position, certain items of net income may be allocated to the General Partner in accordance with the Partnership Agreement.