-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VChhSieRNjULcLfrmiMg2vCbxpmN+VJaAZS+CFXho1zhGW8wwnott32G1ElnNzKt
 UKDHmsGFNyoP6SC3z6c5iQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001287958-04-000033.txt : 20040806
<SEC-HEADER>0001287958-04-000033.hdr.sgml : 20040806
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040806102402
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001287958-04-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040806
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040806

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PARKE KEVIN R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001253370

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05822
		FILM NUMBER:		04956475

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		LEEWARD 5 LEESIDE DR POINTSHARE
		CITY:			PEMBROKE BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			00000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412952396

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

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001253370</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PARKE KEVIN R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James R. Bordewick, Jr., By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poaparke.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
21st day of August, 2002.




KEVIN J. PARKE
Kevin J. Parke
Trustee


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