Partnership Income, Expense and Cash Distributions Distributions (Details)	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Percent of Regular Distributions	100.00%
Penalty on Outstanding Contingent Interest		0.90%
Limited Partner [Member]
Percent of Regular Distributions	99.00%
Special Distribution		75.00%
General Partner [Member]
Percent of Regular Distributions	1.00%
Special Distribution		25.00%

When a property is sold, this is the penalty on the unpaid amount of the contingent interest owed.

No definition available.

Name:	atax_PenaltyOnOutstandingContingentInterest
Namespace Prefix:	atax_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant