February 13, 1998




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 December 31, 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/George Fondulis
George Fondulis
Assistant Controller




TC8-Q3.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        December 31, 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    December 31, 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 - December 31, 1997 (Unaudited)
            and March 31, 1997                                              1

         Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - For the Three and Nine
            Months Ended December 31, 1997 and 1996                         2

         Statement of Changes in Partners' Equity (Deficiency) (Unaudited) -
            For the Nine Months Ended December 31, 1997                     3

         Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - For the Nine
            Months Ended December 31, 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                                                                   7

SIGNATURE                                                                   8

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

<TABLE>
                                                        
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
<CAPTION>



                                                                 December 31,                March 31,
                                                                     1997                      1997
                                                                  (Unaudited)
Assets

<S>                                                            <C>                       <C>            
Cash and cash equivalents                                      $      321,550            $       273,412
Investments in Local Limited Partnerships (Note 1)                 25,728,914                 26,813,245
Restricted cash                                                             -                    503,031
Marketable securities, at fair value                                1,391,210                  1,442,676
Organization costs, net of accumulated
   amortization of $38,333 and $30,833, respectively                   11,667                     19,167
Other assets                                                           26,625                     26,727
                                                               --------------            ---------------
     Total Assets                                              $   27,479,966            $    29,078,258
                                                               ==============            ===============

Liabilities and Partners' Equity

Accounts payable to affiliates                                 $      211,247            $       128,791
Accrued expenses                                                       30,054                     38,729
                                                               --------------            ---------------
     Total Liabilities                                                241,301                    167,520
                                                               --------------            ---------------

Commitments

General, Initial and Investor Limited Partners' Equity             27,247,990                 28,927,578
Net unrealized losses on marketable securities                         (9,325)                   (16,840)
                                                               --------------            ---------------
     Total Partners' Equity                                        27,238,665                 28,910,738
                                                               --------------            ---------------
     Total Liabilities and Partners' Equity                    $   27,479,966            $    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>

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                                   (Unaudited)

             For the Three and Nine Months Ended December 31, 1997 and 1996
<CAPTION>

                                             Three Months Ended                          Nine Months Ended
                                      December 31,         December 31,           December 31,       December 31,
                                          1997                 1996                   1997               1996
                                      -------------        -------------         --------------    ----------

Revenue:
<S>                                    <C>                  <C>                   <C>               <C>         
   Investment                          $    25,654          $    (1,407)          $     79,099      $     40,245
   Other                                     3,360               19,011                  4,685            17,142
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------
     Total Revenue                          29,014               17,604                 83,784            57,387
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------

Expenses:
   Asset management fees,
     related party                          49,609               48,024                148,827           144,026
   General and administrative
     expenses (includes
     reimbursements to affiliates
     in the amounts of $68,329
     and $76,868 in 1997 and
     1996, respectively)                    40,250               29,776                123,056           139,015
   Amortization                              9,986                7,974                 29,958            23,928
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------
       Total Expenses                       99,845               85,774                301,841           306,969
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------

Loss before equity in losses
   of Local Limited Partnership            (70,831)             (68,170)              (218,057)         (249,582)

Equity in losses of Local
   Limited Partnerships (Note 1)          (526,592)            (292,406)            (1,461,531)       (1,139,110)
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------

Net Loss                               $  (597,423)         $  (360,576)          $ (1,679,588)     $ (1,388,692)
                                       ===========          ===========           ============      ============

Net Loss allocated
   To General Partners                 $    (5,974)         $    (3,606)          $    (16,796)     $    (13,887)
   To Limited Partners                    (591,449)            (356,970)            (1,662,792)       (1,374,805)
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------
                                       $  (597,423)         $  (360,576)          $ (1,679,588)     $ (1,388,692)
                                       ===========          ===========           ============      ============

Net Loss per Limited
   Partnership Unit (36,497 Units)     $    (16.21)         $     (9.79)          $     (45.56)     $     (37.67)
                                       ===========          ===========           ============      ============
</TABLE>


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

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

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

                   For the Nine Months Ended December 31, 1997

<CAPTION>

                                                    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                      -               -             -           7,515             7,515

Net Loss                             (16,796)              -     (1,662,792)             -        (1,679,588)
                                    --------        --------  -------------      ---------     -------------

Balance at December 31, 1997        $(43,867)       $    100  $  27,291,757      $  (9,325)    $  27,238,665
                                    ========        ========  =============      =========     =============
</TABLE>

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

<PAGE>

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

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)

              For the Nine Months Ended December 31, 1997 and 1996
<CAPTION>


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

<S>                                                                      <C>                      <C>          
Net cash used for operating activities                                   $   (114,786)            $   (146,204)
                                                                         ------------             ------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Investment in Local Limited Partnerships                                  (451,360)              (2,716,626)
   Restricted cash                                                            503,031                  873,975
   Cash distributions received from
       Local Limited Partnerships                                              51,702                    4,409
   Purchases of marketable securities                                        (672,711)              (3,953,712)
   Proceeds from sales and maturities of
       marketable securities                                                  732,262                6,293,428
   Payment of acquisition expenses                                                  -                     (888)
                                                                         ------------             ------------
Net cash provided by investing activities                                     162,924                  500,586
                                                                         ------------             ------------

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                      48,138                  354,382

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

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                 $    321,550             $    426,097
                                                                         ============             ============
</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.  Certain  reclassifications  have been made to prior year
financial statements to conform to current year classifications.

The Managing  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  about  the  Local  Limited  Partnerships  that is  included  in the
accompanying financial statements is as of September 30, 1997 and 1996.

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
December 31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Capital Contributions paid to Local Limited
<S>                                                                                            <C>          
   Partnerships                                                                                $  29,264,859

Cumulative equity in losses of Local Limited Partnerships                                         (4,426,795)

Cumulative cash distributions received from Local
   Limited Partnerships                                                                              (83,700)
                                                                                                ------------           

Investment in Local Limited Partnership before adjustment                                         24,754,364

Excess of investment cost over the underlying net assets acquired:

   Acquisition fees and expenses                                                                   1,048,010

   Accumulated amortization of acquisition fees and expenses                                         (73,460)
                                                                                               -------------

Investment in Local Limited Partnerships                                                       $  25,728,914
                                                                                               =============
</TABLE>

The Partnership's share of net losses of the Local Limited  Partnerships for the
nine months ended December 31, 1997 is $1,461,531.




<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 December  31,  1997,  the Fund had cash and cash  equivalents  of $321,550 as
compared to $273,412 at March 31, 1997. This increase is primarily  attributable
to proceeds  from the sale of  marketable  securities  in excess of purchases of
marketable  securities  and  cash  distributions  received  from  Local  Limited
Partnerships.  These  increases  are  partially  offset  by net  cash  used  for
operations.

The Fund made the final  release of  restricted  cash on August 5,  1997.  These
funds  were  released  as a capital  contribution  to one of the  Local  Limited
Partnerships in which the Fund has invested.

As of  December  31,  1997,  approximately  $1,471,000  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.

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 December 31, 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 nine months ended December 31, 1997.

Results of Operations

For the three and nine months ended  December 31,  1997,  the Fund's  operations
resulted in a net loss of $597,423 and  $1,679,588,  as compared to $360,576 and
$1,388,692 for the three and nine months ended December 31, 1996,  respectively.
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 nine months ended December 31, 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 nine months ended  December 31, 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 December 31, 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:  February 13, 1998                BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VIII,
                                               A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                     By:   Arch Street VIII Limited Partnership,
                                           its General Partner




                                           /s/William E. Haynsworth
                                           William E. Haynsworth
                                           Managing Director, Vice President and
                                           Chief Operating Officer








<PAGE>