Variable Interest Entities Consolidating Income Statement (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	$ 3,732,807	$ 2,960,400
Investment income	7,716,617	2,371,404
Interest Income, Operating	1,244,985	39,345
Other income	250,000	0
Total revenues	12,944,409	5,371,149	5,371,149
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	2,057,036	1,615,376
Provision for loss on receivables	238,175	238,175
Depreciation and amortization	1,581,376	1,063,767
Interest	1,536,273	1,268,816	1,268,816
General and administrative	970,491	650,579
Total expenses	6,383,351	4,836,713
Income (loss) from operations	6,561,058	534,436
Income from discontinued operations	1,933,019	235,148
Net income (loss)	8,494,077	769,584
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	172,651	139,152
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	8,321,426	630,432	630,432
Partnership [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	2,519,738	1,765,491
Investment income	8,094,326	2,753,077
Interest Income, Operating	1,244,985	39,345
Other income	250,000
Total revenues	12,109,049	4,557,913
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	1,323,634	907,335
Provision for loss on receivables	238,175	238,175
Depreciation and amortization	1,238,459	718,713
Interest	1,536,273	1,268,816
General and administrative	970,491	650,579
Total expenses	5,307,032	3,783,618
Income (loss) from operations	6,802,017	774,295
Income from discontinued operations	1,933,019	235,148
Net income (loss)	8,735,036	1,009,443
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	172,651	139,152
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	8,562,385	870,291
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	1,213,069	1,194,909
Investment income	0	0
Interest Income, Operating	0	0
Other income	0
Total revenues	1,213,069	1,194,909	1,194,909
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	733,402	708,041
Provision for loss on receivables	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	353,736	355,986
Interest	819,163	799,142	799,142
General and administrative	0	0
Total expenses	1,906,301	1,863,169
Income (loss) from operations	(693,232)	(668,260)
Income from discontinued operations	0	0
Net income (loss)	(693,232)	(668,260)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	(693,232)	(668,260)	(668,260)
Consolidations, Eliminations for VIEs [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	0	0
Investment income	(377,709)	(381,673)
Interest Income, Operating	0	0
Other income	0
Total revenues	(377,709)	(381,673)
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	0	0
Provision for loss on receivables	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	(10,819)	(10,932)
Interest	(819,163)	(799,142)
General and administrative	0	0
Total expenses	(829,982)	(810,074)
Income (loss) from operations	452,273	428,401
Income from discontinued operations	0	0
Net income (loss)	452,273	428,401
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	$ 452,273	$ 428,401