November 14, 1997




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

Re:     Boston Financial Tax Credit Fund VII, A Limited Partnership
        Report on Form 10-Q for Quarter Ended September 30, 1997
        File No. 0-24584



Gentlemen:

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


Very truly yours,


/s/Patricia Olsen-Goldberg
Patricia Olsen-Goldberg
Controller





TC7-Q2.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 September 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   September 30, 1997      Commission file number   0-24584
                  ----------------------                          -------------

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


  Massachusetts                               04-3166203
(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 VII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS




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

Item 1.   Financial Statements

          Balance Sheets - September 30, 1997 (Unaudited)
               and March 31, 1997                                              1
        
          Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - For the Three
               and Six Months Ended September 30, 1997 and 1996                2

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

          Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) -
               For the Six Months Ended September 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 VII, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP



                                                        
                                 BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

Cash and cash equivalents                                             $    403,957          $    373,729
Marketable securities, at fair value                                     3,066,351             3,240,944
Restricted cash                                                            245,821               239,155
Investments in Local Limited Partnerships (Note 1)                      30,383,604            31,792,098
Organization costs, net of accumulated
   amortization of $45,833 and $40,833,
   respectively                                                              4,167                 9,167
Other assets                                                                36,796                39,556
                                                                      ------------          ------------
     Total Assets                                                     $ 34,140,696          $ 35,694,649
                                                                      ============          ============


Liabilities and Partners' Equity

Accounts payable to affiliates                                        $    292,458          $    304,382
Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                       34,690                34,940
                                                                      ------------          ------------
     Total Liabilities                                                     327,148               339,322
                                                                      ------------          ------------

Commitments (Note 2)

General, Initial and Investor Limited Partners' Equity                  33,817,283            35,405,419
Net unrealized losses on marketable securities                              (3,735)              (50,092)
                                                                      ------------          ------------
          Total Partners' Equity                                        33,813,548            35,355,327
                                                                      ------------          ------------
          Total Liabilities and Partners' Equity                      $ 34,140,696          $ 35,694,649
                                                                      ============          ============
</TABLE>

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


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


                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
            For the Three and Six Months Ended September 30, 1997 and 1996
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             Three Months Ended                          Six Months Ended
                                      September 30,        September 30,          September 30,      September 30,
                                          1997                 1996                   1997               1996
                                      -------------        -------------         -------------     ----------
<S>                                    <C>                  <C>                   <C>               <C>   

Revenue:
   Investment                          $    51,514          $    61,366           $    100,095      $    103,118
   Other                                     7,148                  250                 24,490            66,833
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------
       Total Revenue                        58,662               61,616                124,585           169,951
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------

Expenses:
   Asset management fee,
    related party                           71,097               68,826                142,194           137,652
   General and administrative
    (includes reimbursements
    to an affiliate in the amounts
    of $56,645 and $61,782 in
    1997 and 1996, respectively)            46,354               53,981                111,471           119,859
   Amortization                             11,435               11,458                 22,867            22,915
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------
       Total Expenses                      128,886              134,265                276,532           280,426
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------

Loss before equity in losses
    of Local Limited Partnerships          (70,224)             (72,649)              (151,947)         (110,475)

Equity in losses of
   Local Limited Partnerships             (651,586)            (644,393)            (1,436,189)       (1,239,583)
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------

Net Loss                               $  (721,810)         $  (717,042)          $ (1,588,136)     $ (1,350,058)
                                       ===========          ===========           ============      ============


Net Loss allocated:
   To General Partners                 $    (7,218)         $    (7,171)          $    (15,881)     $    (13,501)
   To Limited Partners                    (714,592)            (709,871)            (1,572,255)       (1,336,557)
                                       -----------          -----------           ------------      ------------
                                       $  (721,810)         $  (717,042)          $ (1,588,136)     $ (1,350,058)
                                       ===========          ===========           ============      ============

Net Loss per Limited
   Partnership Unit
   (50,930 Units)                      $   (14.03)          $   (13.94)           $    (30.87)      $     (26.24)
                                       ==========           ==========            ===========       ============

</TABLE>

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

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


              STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PARTNERS' EQUITY (DEFICIENCY)
                                   (Unaudited)
                   For the Six Months Ended September 30, 1997

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       Net
                                                   Initial         Investor         Unrealized
                                   General         Limited          Limited            Gains
                                   Partners       Partners         Partners          (Losses)             Total
<S>                                <C>             <C>          <C>                   <C>              <C>    

Balance at March 31, 1997          $ (90,267)      $ 5,000      $ 35,490,686          $ (50,092)       $ 35,355,327

Net change in net unrealized
   losses on marketable securities
   available for sale                      -             -                 -             46,357              46,357

Net Loss                             (15,881)            -        (1,572,255)                 -          (1,588,136)
                                   ---------       -------      ------------          ---------        ------------

Balance at September 30, 1997      $(106,148)      $ 5,000      $ 33,918,431          $  (3,735)       $ 33,813,548
                                   =========       =======      ============          =========        ============

</TABLE>

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

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


                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                                   (Unaudited)
              For the Six Months Ended September 30, 1997 and 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

Net cash used for operating activities                                      $   (135,158)          $  (106,372)
                                                                            ------------           -----------

Cash flows from investing activities:
    Purchase of marketable securities                                         (1,047,470)             (498,336)
    Proceeds from sales and maturities of
       marketable securities                                                   1,265,084             1,428,000
    Cash distributions received from Local
       Limited Partnerships                                                       48,438               127,057
    Investments in Local Limited Partnerships                                    (94,000)             (525,824)
    Restricted cash                                                               (6,666)               (5,631)
                                                                            ------------           -----------
Net cash provided by investing activities                                        165,386               525,266
                                                                            ------------           -----------

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents                                         30,228               418,894

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                                   373,729               334,845
                                                                            ------------           -----------

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                                    $    403,957           $   753,739
                                                                            ============           ===========
</TABLE>


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


<PAGE>
         BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VII, 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  Partnership'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 Partnership's  financial position and results of
operations.  The results of  operations  for the period 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 the  current  year
presentation.

1.   Investments in Local Limited Partnerships

The Fund has acquired interests in nineteen Local Limited Partnerships which own
and operate  multi-family  housing  complexes.  The Fund,  as  Investor  Limited
Partner,  pursuant to the various  Local  Limited  Partnership  Agreements,  has
generally  acquired a 99% interest,  with the  exception of Springwood  which is
19.80%,  in the profits,  losses,  tax credits and cash flows from operations of
each of the Local  Limited  Partnerships.  Upon  dissolution,  proceeds  will be
distributed according to each respective partnership agreement.

The  following is a summary of  Investments  in Local  Limited  Partnerships  at
September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                <C> 

Capital Contributions paid to Local Limited Partnerships
   and purchase price paid to withdrawing partners of
   Local Limited Partnerships                                                                      $  39,283,961

Cumulative equity in losses of Local Limited Partnerships                                             (9,702,243)

Cash distributions received from Local Limited Partnerships                                             (341,441)
                                                                                                   -------------

Investments in Local Limited Partnerships before adjustments                                          29,240,277

Excess of investment cost over the underlying net assets acquired:

   Acquisition fees and expenses                                                                       1,252,338

   Accumulated amortization of acquisition fees and expenses                                            (109,011)
                                                                                                   -------------

Investments in Local Limited Partnerships                                                          $  30,383,604
                                                                                                   =============                  
</TABLE>



The Partnership's share of the net losses of the Local Limited  Partnerships for
the six months ended September 30, 1997 is $1,436,189.

2.   Commitments

At  September  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
Agreements and total approximately $658,000. In addition, the Fund has set aside
$217,000 in future capital contributions to one Local Limited Partnership.


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


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

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At  September  30,  1997,  the Fund had cash and cash  equivalents  of $403,957,
compared with $373,729 at March 31, 1997. The increase is primarily attributable
to proceeds  from sales and  maturities  of  marketable  securities in excess of
purchases of marketable  securities and cash  distributions  received from Local
Limited Partnerships. These increases to cash and cash equivalents are partially
offset by investments in Local Limited  Partnerships and cash used for operating
activities.

As of September 30, 1997,  approximately $2,506,000 of marketable securities has
been designated as Reserves by the Managing General  Partner.  The Reserves were
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  September  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
Agreements and total approximately $658,000. In addition, the Fund has set aside
$217,000 in future capital contributions to one Local Limited Partnership.

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 September 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 described above.

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

Cash Distributions

No cash distributions were made during the six months ended September 30, 1997.

Results of Operations

The Fund's  results of operations  for the three and six months ended  September
30, 1997 resulted in a net loss of $721,810 and  $1,588,136 as compared to a net
loss of $717,042 and  $1,350,058  for the same periods in 1996.  The increase in
net loss is primarily  attributable  to an increase in equity in losses of Local
Limited Partnerships and a decrease in other revenue.  Equity in losses of Local
Limited  Partnerships  increased during the six months ended September 30, 1997,
as compared to September 30, 1996,  due to an increase in general  operating and
depreciation expenses of the Local Limited Partnerships. Other revenue decreased
during the six months  ended  September  30, 1997 as the result of a decrease in
escrow interest earned by the Partnership.


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


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

Property Discussions

Los Claveles II, located in Trujillio Alto, Puerto Rico, continues to experience
operating  difficulties  due to  ongoing  capital  repair  needs and  management
issues.  An  affiliate  of the  Managing  General  Partner  of  the  Partnership
successfully  negotiated  with the  Local  General  Partners,  lender  and local
housing authority to replace the management agent for Los Claveles II as well as
its  neighboring  property,  Los Claveles I. By  consolidating  management,  the
Managing  General  Partner feels that it can achieve  greater  control over both
sites  and  attain  certain  operating   efficiencies  that  will  benefit  both
properties.  The new management agent assumed responsibility for the property in
December 1996 and has  successfully  obtained Section 8 subsidy  increases.  The
Local General Partners agreed to step down voluntarily and will be replaced by a
new general  partner,  once the workout  plan is approved by the lender.  In the
mean time,  the Local General  Partners  executed a delegation  agreement  which
grants  authority to an affiliate of the Managing  General  Partner to implement
the capital  improvement  plan and complete  negotiations  with the lender.  The
lender  continues to indicate its willingness to work with the Managing  General
Partner and management agent to improve  operations and cure defaults.  Although
there  appears  to be  sufficient  resources  to turn  the  project  around,  no
agreement has been reached with the lender to date.





<PAGE>
       BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VII, 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 September 30, 1997.



<PAGE>
    BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VII, 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:  November 14, 1997              BOSTON FINANCIAL TAX CREDIT FUND VII,
                                       A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP


                                   By: Arch Street VII, Inc.,
                                       its Managing General Partner




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





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