PHC Certificates Mark to Market PHC (Details) - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Estimated Fair Value	$ 60,707,290	$ 61,263,123
Public housing capital fund trusts [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost Adjusted for Paydowns	58,869,789	59,887,921
Unrealized Gain	1,847,819	1,375,202
Unrealized Loss	(10,318)	0
Estimated Fair Value	60,707,290	61,263,123
Public Housing Capital Fund Trust I [Member] \| Public housing capital fund trusts [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost Adjusted for Paydowns	27,274,451	27,414,100
Unrealized Gain	1,482,376	933,789
Unrealized Loss	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	28,756,827	28,347,889
Public Housing Capital Fund Trust II [Member] \| Public housing capital fund trusts [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost Adjusted for Paydowns	11,081,987	11,999,721
Unrealized Gain	365,443	152,293
Unrealized Loss	0	0
Estimated Fair Value	11,447,430	12,152,014
Public Housing Capital Fund Trust III [Member] \| Public housing capital fund trusts [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Cost Adjusted for Paydowns	20,513,351	20,474,100
Unrealized Gain	0	289,120
Unrealized Loss	(10,318)	0
Estimated Fair Value	$ 20,503,033	$ 20,763,220

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity, which is held in a trust for public housing authority bonds, whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may by used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

No definition available.

Name:	atax_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosurePublicHousingAuthority
Namespace Prefix:	atax_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant