Variable Interest Entities Consolidating Income Statement (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	$ 4,124,413	$ 3,675,140	$ 12,512,775	$ 9,959,704
Investment income	8,485,518	6,958,323	25,853,963	19,405,356
Gain on sale of MF Property	1,187,807	0	4,605,269	0
Interest Income, Operating	287,134	222,074	739,057	672,974
Other income	0	188,000	0	188,000
Revenues	14,084,872	11,043,537	43,711,064	33,910,932
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	2,933,278	2,091,706	7,679,583	5,549,397
Provision for loss on receivables	0	75,000	0	75,000
Provision for loss on receivables	(98,431)	0	0	0
Depreciation and amortization	1,829,026	1,593,312	5,365,121	4,265,375
Interest	4,754,119	2,575,873	11,683,429	7,029,058
General and administrative	2,380,497	1,409,688	6,214,093	4,079,493
Total expenses	11,798,489	7,745,579	30,942,226	20,998,323
Net income (loss)	2,540,277	3,304,680	13,285,447	13,009,489
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(372)	(3,149)	(952)	(3,626)
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	2,540,649	3,307,829	13,286,399	13,013,115
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds	0	0	0	3,684,898
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	2,286,383	3,297,958	12,768,838	12,912,609
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	253,894	6,722	516,609	96,880
Partnership [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	4,124,413	3,675,140	12,512,775	9,959,704
Investment income	8,485,518	6,958,323	25,853,963	19,405,356
Gain on sale of MF Property	1,187,807		4,605,269
Interest Income, Operating	287,134	222,074	739,057	672,974
Other income		188,000		188,000
Revenues	14,084,872	11,043,537	43,711,064	33,910,932
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	2,933,278	2,091,706	7,679,583	5,549,397
Provision for loss on receivables		75,000		75,000
Provision for loss on receivables	(98,431)
Depreciation and amortization	1,829,026	1,593,312	5,365,121	4,265,375
Interest	4,754,119	2,575,873	11,683,429	7,029,058
General and administrative	2,380,497	1,409,688	6,214,093	4,079,493
Total expenses	11,798,489	7,745,579	30,942,226	20,998,323
Net income (loss)	2,513,966	3,469,912	13,337,348	13,429,174
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	(372)	(3,149)	(952)	(3,626)
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	2,514,338	3,473,061	13,338,300	13,432,800
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds				3,684,898
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	2,286,383	3,297,958	12,768,838	12,912,609
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	227,583	171,954	568,510	516,565
Consolidated VIEs [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	0	0	0	0
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of MF Property	0		0
Interest Income, Operating	0	0	0	0
Other income		0		0
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	0	0	0	0
Provision for loss on receivables		0		0
Provision for loss on receivables	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Interest	0	0	0	0
General and administrative	0	0	0	0
Total expenses	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(334,164)	(505,338)	(1,119,191)	(1,426,463)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	(334,164)	(505,338)	(1,119,191)	$ (1,426,463)
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	$ 0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(334,164)	(505,338)	(1,119,191)	(1,426,463)
Consolidations, Eliminations for VIEs [Member]
Revenues [Abstract]
Property revenues	0	0	0	0
Investment income	0	0	0	0
Gain on sale of MF Property	0		0
Interest Income, Operating	0	0	0	0
Other income		0		0
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Expenses [Abstract]
Real estate operating (exclusive of items shown below)	0	0	0	0
Provision for loss on receivables		0		0
Provision for loss on receivables	0
Depreciation and amortization	0	0	0	0
Interest	0	0	0	0
General and administrative	0	0	0	0
Total expenses	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	360,475	340,106	1,067,290	1,006,778
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) - America First Tax Exempt Investors, L.P.	360,475	340,106	1,067,290	$ 1,006,778
Gain on sale and retirement of bonds
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest	0	0	0	$ 0
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 360,475	$ 340,106	$ 1,067,290	$ 1,006,778