-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 zor9ddZLvrls7+XBt8AoHQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001301634-04-000001.txt : 20040827
<SEC-HEADER>0001301634-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040827
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040827115238
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001301634-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040823
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040827
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040827

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kirwan Paul T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001301634

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05822
		FILM NUMBER:		041001245

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		800-343-2829

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MFS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT
		STREET 2:		500 BOYLSTON STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116

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>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-23</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301634</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kirwan Paul T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MFS INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 BOYLSTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>SVP &amp; CFO of MFS</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James R. Bordewick, By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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



     The  undersigned  hereby  constitutes  and appoints  Christopher R. Bohane,
James R.  Bordewick,  Jr., James F. DesMarais,  Brian T. Hourihan,  Stephanie A.
Molinari  and  Susan A.  Pereira  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 23rd
day of August, 2004




PAUL T. KIRWAN
Paul T. Kirwan

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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