-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001208529-04-000013.txt : 20040610
<SEC-HEADER>0001208529-04-000013.hdr.sgml : 20040610
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040610105613
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001208529-04-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040608
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040610

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MFS CHARTER INCOME TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000851170
		IRS NUMBER:				043055815
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 BOYLSTON ST
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		18006372929

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 BOYLSTON STREET
		STREET 2:		15TH FLOOR
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	MFS PRINCIPAL INCOME TRUST
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890906

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LANE AMY B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208529

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05822
		FILM NUMBER:		04857346

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1626 EAST JEFFERSON ST
		CITY:			ROCKVILLE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20852
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3019988100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1626 EAST JEFFERSON ST
		CITY:			ROCKVILLE
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			20852
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000851170</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MFS CHARTER INCOME TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208529</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LANE AMY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1626 EAST JEFFERSON ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20852</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>MFS Charter Income Trust</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James R. Bordewick, Jr., By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poalane.txt
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY
<TEXT>

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



     The  undersigned  hereby  constitutes  and appoints  Christopher R. Bohane,
James R.  Bordewick,  Jr.,  Stephen E.  Cavan,  James F.  DesMarais  and John D.
Norberg,  and each of them singly,  as true and lawful attorneys with full power
to them and each of them,  to  execute,  on  behalf of the  undersigned,  in the
capacity listed below, any and all statements or reports under Section 16 of the
Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,  as amended,  with  respect to the  beneficial
ownership of  reportable  securities  issued by MFS Charter  Income  Trust,  MFS
Government Markets Income Trust, MFS Intermediate  Income Trust, MFS Multimarket
Income Trust,  MFS Municipal Income Trust and MFS Special Value Trust including,
without  limitation,  all initial statements of beneficial  ownership on Form 3,
all  statements  of changes  of  beneficial  ownership  on Form 4 and all annual
statements  of beneficial  ownership on Form 5, and any and all other  documents
that may be required,  from time to time,  to be filed with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission,  to execute any and all  amendments or  supplements to any
such statements or forms, and to file the same, with all exhibits  thereto,  and
other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  granting to said  attorney,  full power and  authority to do so and
perform each and every act and thing  requisite  and necessary to be done in and
about the  premises,  as fully to all  intents and  purposes as the  undersigned
might or could do in  person,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  all that said
attorneys or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  undersigned has set his or her hand on this 27th
day of January, 2004.




AMY B. LANE
Amy B. Lane
Trustee



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
