August 13, 1997




Securities and Exchange Commission
Filer Support, Edgar
Operation Center, Stop 0-7
6432 General Green Way
Alexandria, VA 22312

       Boston Financial Tax Credit Fund VIII, A Limited Partnership
       Report on Form 10-Q for Quarter Ended June 30, 1997
       File No. 0-26522



Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934, filed herewith is a copy of subject report.


Very truly yours,


/s/Veronica J. Curioso
Veronica J. Curioso
Assistant Controller




TC8-Q1.DOC



<PAGE>


                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-Q

Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934

(Mark One)

[ X ]     QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
          EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended    June 30, 1997
                              ---------------------

                                       OR

[   ]     TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
          EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


For the transition period from              to
                              -------------    -------------

For Quarter Ended June 30, 1997        Commission file number       0-26522
                ------------------                              --------------

              Boston  Financial  Tax Credit Fund VIII, A Limited
              Partnership (Exact name of registrant as specified
                              in its charter)


        Massachusetts                         04-3205879
  (State or other jurisdiction of            (I.R.S.Employer Identification No.)
   incorporation or organization)


   101 Arch Street, Boston, Massachusetts     02110-1106
  (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code  (617) 439-3911
                                                  ------------------

        Indicate by check mark whether the  registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No .


<PAGE>



         BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS




PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                          Page No.
                                                                        -------

Item 1.  Financial Statements

         Balance Sheets - June 30, 1997 (Unaudited)
            and March 31, 1997                                                 1

         Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - For the Three
            Months Ended June 30, 1997 and 1996                                2

         Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity (Deficiency) (Unaudited) -
            For the Three Months Ended June 30, 1997                           3

         Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - For the Three
            Months Ended June 30, 1997 and 1996                                4

         Notes to Financial Statements (Unaudited)                             5

Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
         Condition and Results of Operations                                   6

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Items 1-6                                                                      8

SIGNATURE                                                                      9



<PAGE>
        BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        
                                 BALANCE SHEETS



                                                                   June 30,                  March 31,
                                                                     1997                      1997
                                                                  (Unaudited)
Assets
<S>                                                              <C>                        <C>  

Cash and cash equivalents                                        $    330,437               $    273,412
Investments in Local Limited Partnerships (Note 1)                 26,273,333                 26,813,245
Restricted cash                                                       509,093                    503,031
Marketable securities, at fair value                                1,388,157                  1,442,676
Organization costs, net of accumulated
   amortization of $33,333 and $30,833, respectively                   16,667                     19,167
Other assets                                                           31,617                     26,727
                                                                 ------------               ------------
     Total Assets                                                $ 28,549,304               $ 29,078,258
                                                                 ============               ============

Liabilities and Partners' Equity

Accounts payable to affiliate                                    $    168,861               $    128,791
Accrued expenses                                                       34,981                     38,729
                                                                 ------------               ------------
     Total Liabilities                                                203,842                    167,520
                                                                 ------------               ------------

Commitments

General, Initial and Investor Limited Partners' Equity             28,356,008                 28,927,578
Net unrealized losses on marketable securities                        (10,546)                   (16,840)
                                                                 ------------               ------------
     Total Partners' Equity                                        28,345,462                 28,910,738
                                                                 ------------               ------------
     Total Liabilities and Partners' Equity                      $ 28,549,304               $ 29,078,258
                                                                 ============               ============
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
<PAGE>
        BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)

                For the Three Months Ended June 30, 1997 and 1996

                                                                                    1997                  1996
                                                                              ---------------        ---------
<S>                                                                               <C>                  <C>

Revenue:
    Investment                                                                    $   26,319           $   1,886
    Other                                                                                725              16,734
                                                                                  ----------           ---------
       Total Revenue                                                                  27,044              18,620
                                                                                  ----------           ---------

Expenses:
    Asset management fees, related party                                              49,609              48,071
    General and administrative (includes reimbursements
       to an affiliate in the amounts of $29,402 and
       $31,685 in 1997 and 1996, respectively)                                        46,904              70,091
    Amortization                                                                       9,984               9,987
                                                                                  ----------           ---------
          Total Expenses                                                             106,497             128,149
                                                                                  ----------           ---------

Loss before equity in losses
    of Local Limited Partnerships                                                    (79,453)           (109,529)

Equity in losses of Local Limited Partnerships                                      (492,117)           (174,210)
                                                                                  ----------           ---------

Net Loss                                                                          $ (571,570)          $(283,739)
                                                                                  ==========           =========

Net Loss allocated:
    To General Partners                                                           $   (5,716)          $  (2,837)
    To Limited Partners                                                             (565,854)           (280,902)
                                                                                  -----------          ---------
                                                                                  $ (571,570)          $(283,739)
                                                                                  ==========           =========

Net Loss per Limited Partnership Unit
   (36,497 Units)                                                                 $  (15.50)           $    (7.70)
                                                                                  =========            ==========

</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

<PAGE>
       BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


              STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
                                   (Unaudited)

                    For the Three Months Ended June 30, 1997


                                                    Initial      Investor            Net
                                    General         Limited       Limited        Unrealized
                                    Partners       Partners      Partners          Losses          Total

<S>                                 <C>             <C>       <C>                 <C>          <C>

Balance at March 31, 1997           $(27,071)       $    100  $  28,954,549       $(16,840)    $  28,910,738

Net change in unrealized losses
   on marketable securities
   available for sale                      -               -             -           6,294             6,294

Net Loss                              (5,716)              -       (565,854)             -          (571,570)
                                    --------        --------  -------------      ---------     -------------

Balance at June 30, 1997            $(32,787)       $    100  $  28,388,695      $ (10,546)    $  28,345,462
                                    ========        ========  =============      =========     =============
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

<PAGE>
       BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)

                For the Three Months Ended June 30, 1997 and 1996


                                                                              1997                     1996
                                                                        --------------           ----------

<S>                                                                      <C>                      <C>              

Net cash used for operating activities                                   $    (38,185)            $    (64,003)
                                                                         -------------            ------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Investment in Local Limited Partnerships                                         -               (2,422,771)
   Restricted cash                                                             (6,062)                 885,163
   Cash distributions received from
       Local Limited Partnerships                                              40,311                    4,409
   Purchases of marketable securities                                         (99,875)              (3,424,134)
   Proceeds from sales and maturities of
       marketable securities                                                  160,836                5,051,646
                                                                         ------------             ------------
Net cash provided by investing activities                                      95,210                   94,313
                                                                         ------------             ------------

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                      57,025                   30,310

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                                273,412                   71,715
                                                                         ------------             ------------

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                 $    330,437             $    102,025
                                                                         ============             ============


</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

<PAGE>
          BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                          Notes to Financial Statements
                                   (Unaudited)

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  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.  These  statements  should be read in conjunction with the financial
statements  and notes  thereto  included with the Fund's 10-K for the year ended
March 31, 1997. In the opinion of management, 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.


1.   Investments in Local Limited Partnerships

The Fund has acquired an interest in ten Local  Limited  Partnerships  which own
and operate  multi-family  housing  complexes.  The Fund,  as  Investor  Limited
Partner,  pursuant to the Local Limited  Partnership  Agreements,  has generally
acquired a 99% interest in the profits,  losses, tax credits and cash flows from
operations of the Local Limited Partnerships,  with the exception of Springwood,
Hemlock  Ridge,  Pike Place and West End Place,  which are 79.20%,  77%, 90% and
90%, respectively.  Another partnership sponsored by an affiliate of the General
Partner owns the remaining 19.80% Limited Partner  interest in Springwood.  Upon
dissolution,   proceeds  will  be  distributed   according  to  the  partnership
agreements.

The following is a summary of Investments in Local Limited  Partnerships at June
30, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                            <C>

Capital Contributions paid to Local Limited
   Partnerships                                                                                $  28,813,499

Cumulative equity in losses of Local Limited Partnerships                                         (3,457,381)

Cumulative cash distributions received from Local
   Limited Partnerships                                                                              (72,309)
                                                                                                   ---------

Investment in Local Limited Partnerships before adjustment                                        25,283,809

Excess of investment cost over the underlying net assets acquired:

   Acquisition fees and expenses                                                                   1,048,010

   Accumulated amortization of acquisition fees and expenses                                         (58,486)
                                                                                               -------------

Investment in Local Limited Partnerships                                                       $  26,273,333
                                                                                               =============
</TABLE>

The  Partnership's  share of net losses of the  Local Limited  Partnerships  for
the three months ended June 30, 1997 is $492,117.
<PAGE>
       BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
                  FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At June 30, 1997, the Fund had cash and cash equivalents of $330,437 as compared
to $273,412  at March 31,  1997.  This  increase is  primarily  attributable  to
proceeds from the sale of marketable securities and cash distributions  received
from Local Limited Partnerships, offset by purchase of marketable securities and
net cash used for operations.

The Fund also has  restricted  cash of  $509,093 at June 30,  1997.  These funds
represent  escrowed  funds to be applied to future capital  contributions  to be
made to one of the Local  Limited  Partnerships  in which the Fund has invested.
The funds are scheduled to be released on July 31, 1997.

As of June 30, 1997,  approximately $1,515,000 of cash and marketable securities
has been  designated as Reserves.  The Reserves are  established  to be used for
working capital of the Fund and contingencies  related to the ownership of Local
Limited  Partnership  interests.  Management  believes that the interest  income
earned on Reserves,  along with cash  distributions  received from Local Limited
Partnerships,  to the extent  available,  will be  sufficient to fund the Fund's
ongoing  operations.  Reserves may be used to fund  operating  deficits,  if the
Managing General Partner deems funding appropriate.

At June 30, 1997,  the Fund has committed to make future  capital  contributions
and pay future  purchase price  installments on its investments in Local Limited
Partnerships.  These future  payments are  contingent  upon the  achievement  of
certain  criteria as set forth in the Local  Limited  Partnership  Agreement and
total approximately $457,000.

Since the Fund invests as a limited partner, the Fund has no contractual duty to
provide  additional  funds to Local  Limited  Partnerships  beyond its specified
investment.  Thus,  as of June 30, 1997,  the Fund had no  contractual  or other
obligation to any Local Limited Partnership, which had not been paid or provided
for, except as disclosed above.

In the event  a  Local  Limited Partnership  encounters  operating  difficulties
requiring  additional  funds, the Fund  might deem  it in  its best  interest to
voluntarily provide such  funds, in order to  protect  its  investment.  No such
event has occurred to date.

Cash Distributions

No cash distributions were made during the three months ended June 30, 1997.

Results of Operations

For the three months ended June 30, 1997,  the Fund's  operations  resulted in a
net loss of $571,570, as compared to of $283,739 for the three months ended June
30, 1996. The increase in net loss is primarily  attributable  to an increase in
equity in losses of Local Limited Partnerships.

The  increase in equity in losses of Local  Limited  Partnerships  for the three
months ended June 30, 1997, as compared to the same period in 1996, is primarily
attributable  to the  timing  of  construction  completion.  Since  many  of the
properties  completed  construction  late in 1995, the results of operations for
the three  months ended June 30, 1996 were not  indicative  of the results to be
expected for the future, nor are they comparable.

Property Discussions

The Fund is invested in ten Local Limited  Partnerships which own ten properties
located in eight  states.  Two  properties,  representing  356 units,  underwent
rehabilitation,   and  eight  properties,   representing  1001  units,  are  new
construction.  All of the ten properties are complete,  through initial lease-up
and operating satisfactorily.
<PAGE>
       BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP





PART II       OTHER INFORMATION

Items 1-5     Not applicable

Item 6        Exhibits and reports on Form 8-K

                (a)  Exhibits - None

                (b)  Reports  on Form 8-K - No  reports  on Form 8-K were  filed
                     during the quarter ended June 30, 1997.


<PAGE>
       BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


DATED:  August 13, 1997            BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII,
                                   A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                             By:   Arch Street VIII Limited Partnership,
                                   its General Partner




                                   /s/Vincent J. Costantini
                                   Vincent J. Costantini
                                   Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer




<PAGE>