Variable Interest Entities Consolidating Income Statement (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues									$ 17,431,252	$ 16,110,740	$ 12,654,530
Investment income									26,606,234	22,651,622	11,078,467
Contingent Interest Income									40,000	6,497,160	0
Interest Income, Operating									856,217	1,772,338	150,882
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds									3,701,772	0	680,444
Other income									188,000	250,000	555,328
Total revenues	12,526,708	11,842,949	11,252,978	13,200,840	9,432,691	9,764,177	15,140,583	12,944,409	48,823,475	47,281,860	25,119,651
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating expense									9,751,873	9,574,822	7,877,931
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amount					4,557,741					4,557,741
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses									75,000	168,000	0
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amt									0	4,557,741	0
Provision for loss on receivables									0	241,698	452,700
Depreciation and amortization									7,021,557	6,732,580	4,982,030
Interest expense									11,398,649	7,235,336	5,530,995
General and administrative									5,547,208	4,237,245	3,512,233
Costs and Expenses									33,794,287	32,747,422	22,355,889
Income (loss) from operations									15,029,188	14,534,438	2,763,762
Income from discontinued operations										3,442,404	2,232,276
Net income (loss)									15,029,188	17,976,842	4,996,038
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(4,673)	261,923	549,194
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	2,020,746	3,307,829	3,658,457	6,046,829	2,027,074	3,411,259	3,955,160	8,321,426	15,033,861	17,714,919	4,446,844
Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal of Discontinued Operation, Net of Tax									0	3,177,183	1,406,608
Partnership [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues									14,250,572	11,358,718	7,846,812
Investment income									27,535,513	24,109,397	12,599,284
Contingent Interest Income									40,000	6,497,160
Interest Income, Operating									856,217	1,772,338	150,882
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds									3,701,772		680,444
Other income									188,000	250,000	557,300
Total revenues									46,572,074	43,987,613	21,834,722
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating expense									7,796,761	6,522,091	4,604,870
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amount					4,557,741					4,557,741
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses									75,000	168,000
Provision for loss on receivables										241,698	452,700
Depreciation and amortization									6,089,708	5,374,802	3,447,316
Interest expense									11,398,649	7,235,336	5,530,995
General and administrative									5,547,208	4,237,245	3,512,233
Costs and Expenses									30,907,326	28,336,913	17,548,114
Income (loss) from operations									15,664,748	15,650,700	4,286,608
Income from discontinued operations										3,442,404	2,232,276
Net income (loss)										19,093,104	6,518,884
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(4,673)	261,923	549,194
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.									15,669,421	18,831,181	5,969,690
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues									3,180,680	4,752,022	4,807,718
Investment income									0	0	0
Contingent Interest Income									0	0
Interest Income, Operating									0	0	0
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds									0		0
Other income									0	9,186,828	(1,972)
Total revenues									3,180,680	13,938,850	4,805,746
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating expense									1,955,112	3,052,731	3,273,061
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amount					0					0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses									0	0
Provision for loss on receivables										0	0
Depreciation and amortization									958,621	1,399,548	1,578,275
Interest expense									2,254,786	3,221,000	3,240,306
General and administrative									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses									5,168,519	7,673,279	8,091,642
Income (loss) from operations									(1,987,839)	6,265,571	(3,285,896)
Income from discontinued operations										0	0
Net income (loss)										6,265,571	(3,285,896)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.									(1,987,839)	6,265,571	(3,285,896)
Consolidations, Eliminations for VIEs [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues									0	0	0
Investment income									(929,279)	(1,457,775)	(1,520,817)
Contingent Interest Income									0	0
Interest Income, Operating									0	0	0
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds									0		0
Other income									0	(9,186,828)	0
Total revenues									(929,279)	(10,644,603)	(1,520,817)
Operating Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating expense									0	0	0
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Write-down or Reserve, Amount					0					0
Provision for Loan and Lease Losses									0	0
Provision for loss on receivables										0	0
Depreciation and amortization									(26,772)	(41,770)	(43,561)
Interest expense									(2,254,786)	(3,221,000)	(3,240,306)
General and administrative									0	0	0
Costs and Expenses									(2,281,558)	(3,262,770)	(3,283,867)
Income (loss) from operations									1,352,279	(7,381,833)	1,763,050
Income from discontinued operations										0	0
Net income (loss)										(7,381,833)	1,763,050
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									0	0	0
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.									$ 1,352,279	$ (7,381,833)	$ 1,763,050