-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001017671-04-000003.txt : 20040618
<SEC-HEADER>0001017671-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040618152547
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001017671-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040616
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040618

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:			SMITH WARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001017671

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05822
		FILM NUMBER:		04870795

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SUNDSTRAND CORP
		STREET 2:		4949 HARRISON AVENUE
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61125-7003
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8152266000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 7003
		CITY:			ROCKFORD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61125-7003
</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>2004-06-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001017671</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH WARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 7003</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCKFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>61125-7003</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>2004-06-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.36</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James R. Bordewick, Jr., By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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



     The undersigned  hereby  constitutes  and appoints James R. Bordewick,  Jr.
Stephen E. Cavan,  James F. DesMarais,  Heather R. Girolamo 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 30th
day of August, 2002.




WARD SMITH
Ward Smith
Trustee

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