FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                   (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, 1999

                                       OR

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

             For the transition period from ________ to ___________

                         Commission file number: 0-23908


                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.


California                                                           33-0531301
(State or other jurisdiction of                                (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)


              3158 Redhill Avenue, Suite 120, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

                                 (714) 662-5565


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>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                               INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

                     For the Quarter Ended December 31, 1999


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  Item 1. Financial Statements

    Balance Sheets
      December 31, 1999 and March 31, 1999................................3

    Statements of Operations
      For the three and nine months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998......4

    Statement of Partners' Equity(Deficit)
      For the nine months ended December 31, 1999.........................5

    Statements of Cash Flows
      For the nine months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998................6

    Notes to Financial Statements.........................................7

  Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
          Condition and Results of Operations.............................13

  Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks.....14

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

  Item 1. Legal Proceedings...............................................14

  Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K................................14

  Signatures..............................................................15



<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                                 BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                      December 31, 1999                  March 31, 1999
                                                      -----------------                  --------------
                                                         (Unaudited)
                                     ASSETS

<S>                                             <C>                                <C>
Cash and cash equivalents                       $               495,237            $            509,695
Investment in limited partnerships - Note 2                   8,436,689                       9,164,197
                                                    -------------------                ----------------

                                                $             8,931,926            $          9,673,892
                                                    ===================                ================


                        LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS' EQUITY

Liabilities:
 Payable to limited partnerships -Note 4        $                     -            $             16,836
 Accrued fees and expenses due to
  general partner and affiliates - Note 3                       689,017                         552,257
                                                    -------------------                ----------------

                                                                689,017                         569,093
                                                    -------------------                ----------------
Partners' equity (deficit):
 General partner                                                (87,702)                        (79,083)
 Limited partners (30,000 units
  authorized, 18,000 units issued
  and outstanding)                                            8,330,611                       9,183,882
                                                    -------------------                ----------------

Total partners' equity                                        8,242,909                       9,104,799
                                                    -------------------                ----------------

                                                $             8,931,926            $          9,673,892
                                                    ===================                ================
</TABLE>

                 See accompanying notes to financial statements
                                        3

<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

         For the Three and Nine Months Ended December 30, 1999 and 1998
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     1999                                  1998
                                       ----------------------------------    ---------------------------------

                                            Three               Nine              Three             Nine
                                            Months              Months            Months            Months
                                            ------              ------            ------            ------

<S>                                  <C>                <C>                <C>               <C>
Interest income                      $       4,954      $       15,000     $       6,515     $      16,688
                                       -----------        ------------       -----------       -----------

Operating expenses:
Amortization                                15,116              45,348            15,116            45,348
Asset management fees - Note 3              44,151             134,843            46,542           139,625
Legal and accounting                         3,971              14,573                 -             5,250
Other                                           34               4,901             5,689            22,053
                                       -----------        ------------       -----------       -----------

Total operating expenses                    63,272             199,665            67,347           212,276
                                       -----------        ------------       -----------       -----------

Loss from operations                       (58,318)           (184,665)          (60,832)         (195,588)

Equity in losses from
 limited partnerships                     (223,175)           (677,225)         (184,387)         (674,250)
                                       -----------        ------------       -----------       -----------

Net loss                             $    (281,493)    $      (861,890)    $    (245,219)    $    (869,838)
                                       ===========        ============       ===========       ===========

Net loss allocated to:
 General partner                     $      (2,815)    $        (8,619)    $      (2,452)    $      (8,698)
                                       ===========        ============       ===========       ===========

 Limited partners                    $    (278,678)    $      (853,271)    $    (242,767)    $    (861,140)
                                       ===========        ============       ===========       ===========

Net loss per limited
 partner unit (18,000 units
 issued and outstanding)             $         (15)    $           (47)    $         (13)    $         (48)
                                       ===========        ============       ===========       ===========


</TABLE>

                 See accompanying notes to financial statements
                                        4

<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                          STATEMENT OF PARTNERS' EQUITY(DEFICIT)

                   For the Nine Months Ended December 31, 1999
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                              General              Limited
                                                              Partner              Partners                 Total
                                                              -------              --------                 -----

<S>                                                <C>                     <C>                   <C>
Partners' equity (deficit), March 31, 1999         $          (79,083)     $      9,183,882      $      9,104,799

Net loss for the six months ended
  December 31, 1999                                            (8,619)             (853,271)             (861,890)
                                                     ----------------        --------------        --------------

Partners' equity (deficit), December 31, 1999      $          (87,702)     $      8,330,611      $      8,242,909
                                                     ================        ==============        ==============


</TABLE>



                 See accompanying notes to financial statements
                                        5



<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

              For the Nine Months Ended December 31, 1999 and 1998
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                     1999                       1998
                                                                     ----                       ----
Cash flows from operating activities:
<S>                                                     <C>                       <C>
 Net loss                                               $        (861,890)        $         (869,838)
  Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
   used in operating activities:
    Equity in loss from limited partnerships                      677,225                    674,250
    Amortization                                                   45,348                     45,348
    Asset management fees                                         134,843                    139,625
    Accrued fees and expenses due to
     general partner and affiliates                                 1,917                      5,180
                                                          ---------------           ----------------

Net cash used in operating activities                              (2,557)                    (5,435)
                                                          ---------------           ----------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
 Distributions from limited partnerships                            4,935                      3,237

 Payables to limited partnerships                                 (16,836)                         -
                                                          ---------------           ----------------

Net cash provided by ( used in) investing activities              (11,901)                     3,237
                                                          ---------------           ----------------

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents                         (14,458)                    (2,198)
                                                          ---------------           ----------------

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period                    509,695                    563,949
                                                          ---------------           ----------------

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period                $         495,237         $          561,751
                                                          ===============           ================

</TABLE>


                 See accompanying notes to financial statements
                                        6



<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                          NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                                December 31, 1999
                                   (Unaudited)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

General

The information  contained in the following notes to the financial statements is
condensed  from that  which  would  appear in the annual  financial  statements;
accordingly,  the  financial  statements  included  herein should be reviewed in
conjunction with the financial statements and related notes thereto contained in
the Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 1999.

In the opinion of the Partnership,  the unaudited  financial  statements contain
all  adjustments  (consisting of only normal  recurring  accruals)  necessary to
present fairly the financial position as of December 31, 1999 and the results of
operations  and changes in cash flows for the six months then ended.  Accounting
measurements at interim dates  inherently  involve greater reliance on estimates
than at year end. The results of operations for the interim period presented are
not necessarily indicative of the results for the entire year.

Organization

WNC California  Housing Tax Credits III, L.P. a California  Limited  Partnership
(the  "Partnership"),  was formed on October 5, 1992 under the laws of the state
of California and began  operations on July 19, 1993. The Partnership was formed
to  invest  primarily  in  other  limited   partnerships   (the  "Local  Limited
Partnerships")  which  own  and  operate  multi-family  housing  complexes  (the
"Housing  Complex") that are eligible for low income housing credits.  The local
general   partners  (the  "Local  General   Partners")  of  each  Local  Limited
Partnership retain  responsibility  for maintaining,  operating and managing the
Housing Complex.

The  general  partner  is WNC  Tax  Credit  Partners  III,  L.P.  (the  "General
Partner").  WNC &  Associates,  Inc.  ("WNC") is the general  partner of WNC Tax
Credit Partners III, L.P.  Wilfred N. Cooper Sr.,  through the Cooper  Revocable
Trust owns 66.8% of the  outstanding  stock of WNC. John B. Lester,  Jr. was the
original limited partner of the Partnership and owns,  through the Lester Family
Trust, 28.6% of the outstanding stock of WNC.

The  Partnership  Agreement  authorized the sale of up to 30,000 units at $1,000
per Unit  ("Units").  The offering of Units concluded in July 1994 at which time
17,990 Units, representing subscriptions in the amount of $17,990,000,  had been
accepted. During 1995, an additional 10 units amounting to $10,000 was collected
on  subscriptions  accepted and  previously  deemed  uncollectible.  The General
Partner has a 1% interest in operating  profits and losses,  taxable  income and
losses,  cash available for distribution from the Partnership and tax credits of
the  Partnership.  The limited  partners  will be allocated the remaining 99% of
these items in proportion to their respective investments.

After the limited  partners  have received  proceeds from a sale or  refinancing
equal to their capital  contributions and their return on investment (as defined
in the  Partnership  Agreement)  and the General  Partner has received  proceeds
equal  to its  capital  contribution  and a  subordinated  disposition  fee  (as
described in Note 4) from the  remainder,  any  additional  sale or  refinancing
proceeds will be distributed 90% to the limited partners (in proportion to their
respective investments) and 10% to the General Partner.

                                       7


<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

                                December 31, 1999
                                   (unaudited)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED

Risks and Uncertainties

The Partnership's  investments in Local Limited  Partnerships are subject to the
risks incident to the management and ownership of low-income  housing and to the
management and ownership of multi-unit  residential  real estate.  Some of these
risks  are that the low  income  housing  credit  could be  recaptured  and that
neither the  Partnership's  investments  nor the Housing  Complexes owned by the
Local Limited Partnerships will be readily marketable. To the extent the Housing
Complexes  receive  government  financing  or operating  subsidies,  they may be
subject to one or more of the following risks: difficulties in obtaining tenants
for the Housing Complexes; difficulties in obtaining rent increases; limitations
on cash distributions; limitations on sales or refinancing of Housing Complexes;
limitations on transfers of Local Limited Partnership Interests;  limitations on
removal of Local Partners; limitations on subsidy programs; and possible changes
in  applicable  regulations.  The  Housing  Complexes  are or will be subject to
mortgage indebtedness. If a Local Limited Partnership does not make its mortgage
payments,  the lender could foreclose resulting in a loss of the Housing Complex
and low  income  housing  credits.  As a limited  partner  of the Local  Limited
Partnerships,  the  Partnership  will have very  limited  rights with respect to
management of the Local Limited Partnerships, and will rely totally on the Local
General  Partners of the Local Limited  Partnerships for management of the Local
Limited Partnerships. The value of the Partnership's investments will be subject
to changes in national and local  economic  conditions,  including  unemployment
conditions, which could adversely impact vacancy levels, rental payment defaults
and operating expenses.  This, in turn, could substantially increase the risk of
operating  losses for the Housing  Complexes and the  Partnership.  In addition,
each Local Limited  Partnership  is subject to risks  relating to  environmental
hazards  and  natural   disasters  which  might  be  uninsurable.   Because  the
Partnership's  operations  will  depend on these and other  factors  beyond  the
control of the General Partner and the Local General  Partners,  there can be no
assurance that the  anticipated  low income housing credits will be available to
Limited Partners.

In addition,  Limited  Partners are subject to risks in that the rules governing
the low income  housing  credit are  complicated,  and the use of credits can be
limited.  The only  material  benefit from an investment in Units may be the low
income housing credits. There are limits on the transferability of Units, and it
is unlikely that a market for Units will develop.  All management decisions will
be made by the General Partner.

Method of Accounting For Investments in Limited Partnerships

The Partnership  accounts for its investments in limited  partnerships using the
equity method of  accounting,  whereby the  Partnership  adjusts its  investment
balance for its share of the Local Limited  Partnership's  results of operations
and for any distributions received. The accounting policies of the Local Limited
Partnerships are consistent with those of the Partnership. Costs incurred by the
Partnership  in  acquiring  the  investments  are  capitalized  as  part  of the
investment account and are being amortized over 30 years.

Offering Expenses

Offering  expenses consist of underwriting  commissions,  legal fees,  printing,
filing and  recordation  fees,  and other costs  incurred  with selling  limited
partnership  interests in the  Partnership.  The General Partner is obligated to
pay all  offering  and  organization  costs in  excess of 15%  (including  sales
commissions) of the total offering proceeds.  Offering expenses are reflected as
a reduction of partners'  capital and amounted to  $2,366,564  at the end of all
periods presented.

                                       8

<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

                                December 31, 1999
                                   (unaudited)


NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES, CONTINUED

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect  the  reported  amounts  of assets  and  liabilities  and  disclosure  of
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial  statements,  and
the  reported  amounts of revenues  and expenses  during the  reporting  period.
Actual results could materially differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Partnership considers highly liquid investments with remaining maturities of
three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Net Loss Per Limited Partner Unit

Net loss per limited  partnership  unit is  calculated  pursuant to Statement of
Financial  Accounting  Standards No. 128,  Earnings Per Share. Net loss per unit
includes no dilution  and is computed  by  dividing  loss  available  to limited
partners by the weighted average number of units outstanding  during the period.
Calculation of diluted net income per unit is not required.

NOTE 2 - INVESTMENT IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS

As of the periods  presented,  the Partnership had acquired limited  partnership
interests in eighteen Local Limited Partnerships, each of which owns one Housing
Complex  consisting  of an  aggregate of 635  apartment  units.  The  respective
general  partners  of the  Local  Limited  Partnerships  manage  the  day-to-day
operations  of the entities.  Significant  Local  Limited  Partnership  business
decisions require approval from the Partnership.  The Partnership,  as a limited
partner,  is  generally  entitled  to 99%,  as  specified  in the Local  Limited
Partnership agreements,  of the operating profits and losses, taxable income and
losses and tax credits of the Limited Partnerships.

Equity  in  losses  of the  Local  Limited  Partnerships  is  recognized  in the
financial  statements until the related  investment account is reduced to a zero
balance. Losses incurred after the investment account is reduced to zero are not
recognized. If the Local Limited Partnerships report net income in future years,
the  Partnership  will resume applying the equity method only after its share of
such net  income  equals  the share of net  losses  not  recognized  during  the
period(s) the equity method was suspended.

                                       9

<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

                                December 31, 1999
                                   (unaudited)

NOTE 2 - INVESTMENT IN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, CONTINUED

The  following is a summary of the equity method  activity of the  investment in
Local Limited  Partnerships  for the nine months ended December 31, 1999 and the
three months ended March 31, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         December 31, 1999           March 31, 1999
                                                         -----------------           --------------

<S>                                                 <C>                        <C>
   Investment balance, beginning of period          $            9,164,197     $          9,415,032
   Equity in loss from limited partnership                        (677,225)                (229,696)
   Distributions from limited partnership                           (4,935)                  (6,023)
   Amortization of capitalized acquisition costs                   (45,348)                 (15,116)
                                                      --------------------       ------------------

   Investment balance, end of period                $            8,436,689     $          9,164,197
                                                      ====================       ==================

Selected  operating  information  from the financial  statements of the eighteen
limited  partnerships  with  operations  and  three  limited  partnerships  with
operations for the period ended December 31 is presented below:

                                                                      1999                     1998
                                                                      ----                     ----

   Total revenue                                    $            2,234,000     $          2,176,000
                                                      --------------------       ------------------

   Interest expense                                                711,000                  617,000
   Depreciation                                                    890,000                  890,000
   Operating expenses                                            1,350,000                1,370,000
                                                      --------------------       ------------------

   Total expenses                                                2,951,000                2,877,000
                                                      --------------------       ------------------

   Net loss                                         $             (717,000)    $           (701,000)
                                                      ====================       ==================

   Net loss allocable to the Partnership            $             (710,000)    $           (694,000)
                                                      ====================       ==================

   Net loss recorded by the Partnership             $             (677,225)    $           (674,250)
                                                      ====================       ==================

</TABLE>

NOTE 3 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Partnership has no officers,  employees,  or directors.  However,  under the
terms of the  Partnership  Agreement the Partnership is obligated to the General
Partner or its  affiliates  during the current or future years for the following
fees:

(a)  Annual Asset  Management  Fee. An annual asset  management fee in an amount
     equal  to 0.5% of the  Invested  Assets  of the  Partnership,  as  defined.
     "Invested  Assets" means the sum of the  Partnership's  Investment in Local
     Limited Partnership Interests and the Partnership's  allocable share of the
     amount of the  mortgage  loans on and other  debts  related to, the Housing

                                       10
<PAGE>
                  WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.
                       (A California Limited Partnership)

                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - CONTINUED

                                December 31, 1999
                                   (unaudited)

NOTE 3 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS, CONTINUED

     Complexes  owned by such Local Limited  Partnerships.  Fees of $134,843 and
     $139,625 were incurred  during the nine months ended  December 31, 1999 and
     1998,  respectively.  The  Partnership  paid  the  General  Partner  or its
     affiliates $0 of those fees during the nine months ended  December 30, 1999
     and 1998.

(b)  Subordinated  Disposition Fee. A subordinated  disposition fee in an amount
     equal to 1% of the  sale  price  received  in  connection  with the sale or
     disposition  of a Housing  Complex or Local Limited  Partnership  Interest.
     Subordinated  disposition  fees will be subordinated to the prior return of
     the Limited  Partners'  capital  contributions and payment of the Return on
     Investment to the Limited Partners. "Return on Investment" means an annual,
     cumulative but not compounded,  "return" to the Limited Partners (including
     Low  Income  Housing   Credits)  as  a  class  on  their  adjusted  capital
     contributions  commencing  for each Limited  Partner on the last day of the
     calendar quarter during which the Limited Partner's capital contribution is
     received by the  Partnership,  calculated at the following  rates:  (i) 16%
     through  December 31, 2003, and (ii) 6% for the balance of the Partnerships
     term. No disposition fees have been paid.

(c)  Interest  in  Partnership.   The  General   Partner   receives  1%  of  the
     Partnership's  allocated Low Income  Housing  Credits,  which  approximated
     $24,000 for the General  Partner for the year ended  December 31, 1998. The
     General Partner is also entitled to receive 1% of cash distributions. There
     were no distributions of cash to the General Partner during the nine months
     ended December 31, 1999 or 1998.

The "accrued fees and expenses due to general partner and affiliates"  presented
on the balance sheets consists of the following:

                                        December 31, 1999        March 31, 1999
                                        -----------------        --------------

Asset management fee payable         $            683,737    $          548,894
Reimbursement for expenses
 paid by an affiliate                               5,280                 3,363
                                        -----------------       ---------------

                                     $            689,017    $          552,257
                                        =================       ===============

NOTE 4 - PAYABLE TO LIMITED PARTNERSHIPS

Payable to limited  partnerships at December 31, 1999  represents  amounts which
are due at various times based on conditions  specified in the respective  local
limited partnership agreements. These contributions are payable in installments,
generally due upon the local limited  partnership  achieving  certain  operating
benchmarks,  and are  generally  expected  to be paid  within  two  years of the
Partnership's initial investment.

NOTE 5 - INCOME TAXES

No provisions for income taxes has been recorded in the financial  statements or
any  liabilities  for  income  taxes,  an  obligation  of  the  partners  of the
Partnership.

                                       11

<PAGE>
Item 2. Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
of Operation

Financial Condition

The Partnership's assets at December 31, 1999 consisted primarily of $495,000 in
cash and aggregate  investments  in the eighteen Local Limited  Partnerships  of
$8,437,000.  Liabilities at December 31, 1999 primarily consisted of $689,000 of
accrued annual management fees due to the General Partners.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended December 31, 1999 Compared to Three Months Ended December 31,
1998.  The  Partnership's  net loss for the three months ended December 31, 1999
was $(281,000),  reflecting an increase of $36,000 from the net loss experienced
for the three  months  ended  December  31,  1998.  The  increase in net loss is
primarily due to equity in losses from limited  partnerships  which  increase by
$39,000  to  $(223,000)  for the  three  months  ended  December  31,  1999 from
$(184,000) for the three months ended December 31, 1998. The Partnership did not
recognize certain losses of the Local Limited  Partnerships.  The investments in
such Local Limited  Partnerships  had reached $0 at December 31, 1999. Since the
Partnership's  liability with respect to its  investments is limited,  losses in
excess of investment  are not  recognized.  Along with the increase in equity in
losses from limited partnerships there was a decrease in loss from operations of
$3,000 for the three months ended December 31, 1999 to $(58,000), from $(61,000)
for the three months ended  December 31, 1998,  due to a comparable  decrease in
operating expense allocations.

Nine Months Ended  December 31, 1999 Compared to Nine Months Ended  December 31,
1998. The Partnership's net loss for the nine months ended December 31, 1999 was
$(862,000),  reflecting a decrease of $8,000 from the net loss  experienced  for
the nine months ended  December 31, 1998.  The decrease in net loss is primarily
due to operating costs which decrease by $12,000 to $200,000 for the nine months
ended  December 31, 1999 from  $(212,000) for the nine months ended December 31,
1998.  The  Partnership  did not recognize  certain  losses of the Local Limited
Partnerships.  The investments in such Local Limited Partnerships had reached $0
at December  31, 1999.  Since the  Partnership's  liability  with respect to its
investments  is  limited,  losses in excess of  investment  are not  recognized.
Offsetting the decrease in operating  costs were an increase in equity in losses
from limited  partnerships of $3,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 1999
to $(677,000),  from $(674,000) for the nine months ended December 31, 1998, and
a decrease in interest income.

Cash Flows

Nine Months Ended  December 31, 1999 Compared to Nine Months Ended  December 31,
1998.  Net cash used in during  the nine  months  ended  December  31,  1999 was
$(14,000)  compared to a net decrease in cash for the nine months ended December
31, 1998 of $(2,000).  The change was due primarily to a decrease in payables to
limited  partnerships  of $17,000  offset by an increase in  distributions  from
limited partnerships of $2,000 and a decrease in operating cost of $3,000.

During the nine months ended December 31, 1999 and 1998, accrued payables, which
consist  primarily of related party  management fees due to the General Partner,
increased by $135,000 and $140,000,  respectively.  The General Partner does not
anticipate  that  these  accrued  fees will be paid  until  such time as capital
reserves are in excess of future foreseeable working capital requirements of the
partnership.

The Partnership  expects its future cash flows,  together with its net available
assets at December 31, 1999, to be sufficient to meet all currently  foreseeable
future cash requirements.

                                       12

<PAGE>
Impact of Year 2000

WNC & Associates, Inc.

Status of Readiness

Information Technology (IT) Systems. The Partnership relies on the IT systems of
WNC, its general partner. IT systems include computer hardware and software used
to produce  financial  reports and tax return  information.  This information is
then used to generate  reports to investors and regulatory  agencies,  including
the Internal Revenue Service and the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The IT
systems of WNC are year 2000 compliant.

Non-IT Systems. The Partnership also relies on the non-IT systems of WNC. Non-IT
systems  include  machinery and  equipment  such as  telephones,  voice mail and
electronic  postage  equipment.  Except  for one  telephone  system,  the non-IT
systems of WNC are year 2000  compliant.  The one telephone  system will require
the replacement of one computer and one software application, both of which will
be completed on or before December 15, 1999.

Service  Providers.  WNC also  relies on the IT and  non-IT  systems  of service
providers. Service providers include utility companies,  financial institutions,
telecommunications carriers,  municipalities, and other outside vendors. WNC has
obtained verbal assurances from its material service providers (electrical power
provider,  financial institutions and telecommunications carriers) that their IT
and non-IT systems are year 2000 compliant.  There can be no assurance that this
compliance  information  is  correct.  There also can be no  assurance  that the
systems of other,  less-important  service providers and outside vendors will be
year 2000 compliant.

Costs to Address Year 2000 Issues

The cost to address  year 2000  issues for WNC has been less than  $20,000.  The
cost to replace the telephone  system noted above will be less than $5,000.  The
cost to deal with potential year 2000 issues of other outside  vendors cannot be
estimated at this time.

Risk of Year 2000 Issues

The most  reasonable and likely result from non-year 2000  compliance of systems
of the service  providers  noted above will be the disruption of normal business
operations for WNC. This disruption would, in turn, lead to delays in performing
reporting and fiduciary responsibilities on behalf of the Partnership. The worst
case scenario would be the replacement of a service provider. These delays would
likely  be  temporary  and  would  likely  not  have a  material  effect  on the
Partnership or WNC.

Local Limited Partnerships

Status of Readiness

WNC is in the  process of  obtaining  year 2000  certifications  from each Local
General Partner of each Local Limited  Partnership.  Those  certifications  will
represent  to the  Partnership  that the IT and non-IT  systems  critical to the
operation of the Housing Complexes and investor reporting to the Partnership are
year 2000 compliant. These certifications will also represent to the Partnership
that the IT and non-IT  systems of property  management  companies,  independent
accountants,    electrical   power   providers,   financial   institutions   and
telecommunications  carriers used by the Local Limited Partnership are year 2000
compliant.

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<PAGE>
There can be no assurance that the representations in the certifications will be
correct.   There  also  can  be  no   assurance   that  the  systems  of  other,
less-important  service  providers  and  outside  vendors,  upon which the Local
Limited Partnerships rely, will be year 2000 compliant.

Costs to Address Year 2000 Issues

There  will be no cost to the  Partnership  as a result of  assessing  year 2000
issues for the Local Limited Partnerships.  The cost to deal with potential year
2000 issues of the Local Limited Partnerships cannot be estimated at this time.

Risk of Year 2000 Issues

There may be Local  General  Partners who indicate  that they or their  property
management  company are not year 2000  compliant and do not have plans to become
year 2000  compliant  before the end of 1999.  There may be other Local  General
Partners who are  unwilling to respond to the  certification  request.  The most
likely result of either non-compliance or failure to respond will be the removal
and  replacement  of the property  management  company  and/or the Local General
Partner with year 2000 compliant operators.

Despite the efforts to obtain certifications, there can be no assurance that the
Partnership  will be unaffected  by year 2000 issues.  The most  reasonable  and
likely  result from non-year 2000  compliance  will be the  disruption of normal
business  operations  for the  Local  Limited  Partnerships,  including  but not
limited  to the  possible  failure  to  properly  collect  rents and meet  their
obligations in a timely manner.  This disruption  would, in turn, lead to delays
by  the  Local  Limited  Partnerships  in  performing  reporting  and  fiduciary
responsibilities  on behalf of the  Partnership.  The worst-case  scenario would
include the  initiation of  foreclosure  proceedings on the property by mortgage
debt holders. Under these circumstances, WNC or its affiliates will take actions
necessary  to  minimize  the risk of  foreclosure,  including  the  removal  and
replacement of a Local General  Partner by the  Partnership.  These delays would
likely  be  temporary  and  would  likely  not  have a  material  effect  on the
Partnership or WNC.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

         NONE

Part II. Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

         NONE

Item 6.  Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

         NONE



<PAGE>

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.

WNC CALIFORNIA HOUSING TAX CREDITS III, L.P.

By:  WNC California Tax Credit Partners III General Partner

By:  WNC & Associates, Inc.         General Partner



By: /s/ Wilfred N. Cooper, Jr.

Wilfred N. Cooper, Jr., President
WNC & Associates, Inc.

Date: February 14, 2000



By:  /s/ Michael L. Dickenson

Michael L. Dickenson, Vice-President - Chief Financial Officer
WNC & Associates, Inc.

Date: February 14, 2000






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