NOVEMBER 30, 2008 Annual Report to Shareholders

DWS Municipal Income Trust Ticker Symbol: KTF

Contents

Investments in funds involve risk. Certain investors' income may be subject to the federal Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), and federal, state and local taxes may apply. The fund invests in individual bonds whose yields and market values fluctuate, so that your investment may be worth more or less than its original cost. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk such that, when interest rates rise, the prices of the bonds, and thus the value of the bond investment, can decline and the investor can lose principal value. Leverage results in additional risks and can magnify the effect of any losses. All of these factors may result in greater share price volatility. Closed-end funds, unlike open-end funds, are not continuously offered. There is an initial public offering and, once issued, shares of closed-end funds are sold in the open market through a stock exchange. Shares of closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount to net asset value. The price of the fund's shares is determined by a number of factors, several of which are beyond the control of the fund. Therefore, the fund cannot predict whether its shares will trade at, below or above net asset value.

DWS Investments is part of Deutsche Bank's Asset Management division and, within the US, represents the retail asset management activities of Deutsche Bank AG, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. and DWS Trust Company.

NOT FDIC/NCUA INSURED NO BANK GUARANTEE MAY LOSE VALUE NOT A DEPOSIT NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY

Performance Summary November 30, 2008

Performance is historical, assumes reinvestment of all dividend and capital gain distributions, and does not guarantee future results. Investment return and principal value fluctuate with changing market conditions so that, when sold, shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted. Please visit www.dws-investments.com for the Fund's most recent month-end performance.

Fund specific data and performance are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended for trading purposes.

Returns and rankings based on net asset value during all periods shown reflect fee reductions. Without these fee reductions, returns and rankings would have been lower.

Sources: Lipper Inc. and Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc.

Prices and net asset value fluctuate and are not guaranteed.

Source: Lipper Inc. Rankings are historical and do not guarantee future results. Rankings are based on net asset value total return with distributions reinvested.

Portfolio Management Review

DWS Municipal Income Trust: A Team Approach to Investing

Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. ("DIMA" or the "Advisor"), which is part of Deutsche Asset Management, is the investment advisor for DWS Municipal Income Trust. DIMA and its predecessors have more than 80 years of experience managing mutual funds and DIMA provides a full range of investment advisory services to institutional and retail clients.

Deutsche Asset Management is a global asset management organization that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources. This well-resourced global investment platform brings together a wide variety of experience and investment insight across industries, regions, asset classes and investing styles.

DIMA is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG. Deutsche Bank AG is a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services, including investment management, mutual funds, retail, private and commercial banking, investment banking and insurance.

Portfolio Management Team

Philip G. Condon

Managing Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Co-Lead Portfolio Manager of the fund.

• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1983 and the fund team in 1998.

• Over 31 years of investment industry experience.

• BA and MBA, University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Eleanor R. Lynch, CFA

Director of Deutsche Asset Management and Co-Lead Portfolio Manager of the fund.

• Joined Deutsche Asset Management in 1995 and the fund team in 1998.

• Over 21 years of investment industry experience.

• BS, Ursinus College; MS, Drexel University.

Philip G. Condon and Eleanor R. Lynch serve as co-lead portfolio managers of DWS Municipal Income Trust. In the following interview, the DWS municipal bond team discusses the trust's performance for the period and the market environment for municipal bonds.

The views expressed in the following discussion reflect those of the portfolio management team only through the end of the period of the report as stated on the cover. The management team's views are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions and should not be construed as a recommendation. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Current and future portfolio holdings are subject to risk.

Q: Will you describe the general market environment during the annual period ending November 30, 2008?

A: Municipal bonds delivered negative results over the 12 months ending November 30, 2008. The municipal bond market, as measured by the Barclays Capital Municipal Bond Index, delivered a total return of -3.61% for the 12 months ended November 30, 2008.¹ The broad taxable bond market, as measured by the Barclays Capital US Aggregate Index, delivered a positive total return of 1.74% for the same period.²

The US Federal Reserve Board (the Fed) lowered the federal funds rate (fed funds rate) — the overnight interbank lending rate and a benchmark for interest rates generally — seven times totaling 350 basis points (3.5 percentage points) over the period. This left the fed funds rate at 1.00% at the end of November 2008. Municipal yields declined on the shorter parts of the curve, while rising on issues over seven years. Since a bond's yield moves in the opposite direction of its price, this meant that performance of shorter-term municipal bonds was generally better than that of longer issues.

Municipal supply has been erratic given the economic and credit market backdrop, but overall has lagged last year's record volume only modestly. Demand for all non-Treasury issues including municipals was severely impacted for portions of the period by credit and liquidity concerns that have roiled the financial markets over the last several months. Early in the fiscal period, any support provided by traditional municipal market participants was overwhelmed by the unwinding of positions by institutional investors who had been using leveraging and hedging strategies in an attempt to benefit from disparities between the tax-free and taxable markets. This contributed to a significant dislocation between municipal supply and demand. As the period progressed, while mutual fund flows turned negative and insurance companies retreated to the sidelines, retail interest in individual bonds strengthened, based on attractive municipal yields.

The municipal bond yield curve steepened significantly during the annual period ending November 30, 2008.³ The two-year bond yield decreased 109 basis points from 3.22% to 2.13%, while the 30-year yield increased 100 basis points from 4.38% to 5.38%, resulting in a total steepening of 209 basis points. (See the following graph for municipal bond yield changes from the beginning to the end of the period.)

Municipal Bond Yield Curve (as of 11/30/07 and 11/30/08)

Source: Municipal Market Data, AAA-rated universe

This chart is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to represent the yield of any DWS fund. Performance is historical and does not guarantee future results.

Q: How did DWS Municipal Income Trust perform for the 12-month period ending November 30, 2008?

A: For the period ending November 30, 2008, DWS Municipal Income Trust delivered a total return at net asset value of -12.55%. The fund posted a return based on market value of -16.00%. Its average peer in the Lipper General Closed-End Municipal Debt Leveraged Funds category delivered -20.85% over the period.⁴ The fund's benchmark, the unmanaged Barclays Capital Municipal Bond Index, returned -3.61% over the same period. (Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please see pages 4 through 5 for more complete performance information.) Over the period, the discount at which the fund trades to its net asset value widened from about 11.5% to 15%. We believe any trend toward a widening of the fund's discount is largely a function of closed-end mutual funds being swept up in the liquidity crisis. Also, with the use of borrowing to increase returns having become more problematic, some investors may have discounted leveraged vehicles such as the fund.

Q: How was the fund positioned, and how did this positioning contribute to its performance for the annual period?

A: We continued to manage the fund to provide a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax. Given an environment of low interest rates, we maintained a focus on avoiding excessive sales of bonds carrying high distribution yields.

The fund's relatively conservative positioning from the standpoint of credit risk benefited performance as market participants have continued to seek quality in the wake of the subprime crisis, causing credit spreads to widen over the period. In particular, modest exposure to tobacco- and airline-related issues has helped performance. As the period progressed, credit spreads reached levels where we believed investors were paid more fairly for the incremental risk, and we began to selectively increase exposure to lower-quality issues.⁵ In this vein, we increased the fund's holdings of bonds rated A and BBB.⁶ The credit downgrades of leading bond insurers also contributed to an increase in holdings rated below AAA. Overall, however, the fund's quality profile was relatively high during the period, helping to limit the impact of spread widening. In particular, significant holdings of prerefunded bonds helped, as investors prized their top-notch quality during the liquidity crunch.

As we entered the period, the yield curve was still relatively flat, reducing the income advantage provided by longer-term issues. In this environment, we emphasized bonds with maturities in the 15-to-20-year range. The fund's curve positioning helped performance, as intermediate-term bonds were less impacted by rising yields and corresponding price declines than longer-dated issues. As long-term rates have backed up and the curve has steepened, we have increasingly taken advantage of opportunities to extend the portfolio's duration and increase income, adding exposure to issues in the 20-to-25-year range. Still, the fund had relatively light exposure for most of the period to bonds with maturities over 20 years, helping to limit the impact of rising yields and falling prices on longer-dated issues. Given the steepening of the curve that has occurred, we have continued to add exposure to issues in the 20-to-25-year range.

Finally, the fund has the ability to leverage returns to shareholders through the issuance of preferred shares whose dividend rate is set by auction. For a portion of the period, a stalled auction rate market increased the fund's borrowing costs by pricing the dividend rate at a preestablished premium to short-term yields, which had skyrocketed.⁷ Later in the period, a sharp decline in short-term interest rates dramatically lowered the reference rate used to calculate the cost of this leverage even though the failed auctions continued, supporting the fund's income generation.

Municipal yields are currently very attractive relative to US Treasury bonds, providing an income advantage even before taking into account their tax advantage. To illustrate, at the end of November, the 10-year municipal bond was yielding approximately 138% of the comparable maturity Treasury bond, up from about 90% six months earlier. With a national economic downturn under way and the decreased role of insurance in the municipal market, we believe the expertise we bring to researching municipal sectors and individual issues has never been more important. We will continue to take a prudent approach to investing in the municipal market, while seeking to provide a high level of current income exempt from federal income tax.

Portfolio Summary

Asset allocation, quality, interest rate sensitivity and state allocations are subject to change.

The quality ratings represent the lower of Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or Standard & Poor's Corporation ("S&P") credit ratings. The ratings of Moody's and S&P represent their opinions as to the quality of the securities they rate. Ratings are relative and subjective and are not absolute standards of quality. The Fund's credit quality does not remove market risk.

For more complete details about the Fund's investment portfolio, see page 13. A quarterly Fact Sheet is available upon request. A complete list of the fund's portfolio holdings is posted as of the month end on www.dws-investments.com on or about the 15th day of the following month. More frequent posting of portfolio holdings information may be made from time to time on www.dws-investments.com. Please see the Additional Information section for contact information.

Following the Fund's fiscal first and third quarter-end, a complete portfolio holdings listing is filed with the SEC on Form N-Q. The form will be available on the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov, and it also may be reviewed and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling (800) SEC-0330.

Investment Portfolio as of November 30, 2008

144A: Security exempt from registration under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration, normally to qualified institutional buyers.

AMT: Subject to alternative minimum tax

ETM: Bonds bearing the description ETM (escrow to maturity) are collateralized usually by US Treasury securities which are held in escrow and used to repay principal and pay interest on bonds so designated.

Prerefunded: Bonds which are prerefunded are collateralized usually by US Treasury securities which are held in escrow and are used to repay principal and pay interest on tax-exempt issues and to retire the bonds in full at the earliest refunding date.

RITES: Residual Interest Tax Exempt Security.

Fair Value Measurements

Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, establishes a three-tier hierarchy for measuring fair value and requires additional disclosure about the classification of fair value measurements.

Various inputs are used in determining the value of the Fund's investments. These inputs are summarized in three broad levels. Level 1 includes quoted prices in active markets for identical securities. Level 2 includes other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk). Level 3 includes significant unobservable inputs (including the Fund's own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments). The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used as of November 30, 2008 in valuing the Fund's investments. For information on the Fund's policy regarding the valuation of investments, please refer to the Security Valuation section of Note A in the accompanying Notes to the Financial Statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Financial Statements

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

Financial Highlights

Notes to Financial Statements

A. Significant Accounting Policies

DWS Municipal Income Trust (the ``Fund'') is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the ``1940 Act''), as a closed-end, diversified management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust.

The Fund's financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America which require the use of management estimates. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The policies described below are followed consistently by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements.

Security Valuation. Investments are stated at value determined as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each day the exchange is open for trading. Debt securities are valued by independent pricing services approved by the Trustees of the Fund, whose valuations are intended to reflect the mean between the bid and asked prices. If the pricing services are unable to provide valuations, the securities are valued at the mean of the most recent bid and asked quotations or evaluated price obtained from a one or more broker dealers. Such services may use various pricing techniques which take into account appropriate factors such as yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other data, as well as broker quotes.

Money market instruments purchased with an original or remaining maturity of sixty days or less, maturing at par, are valued at amortized cost.

Securities and other assets for which market quotations are not readily available or for which the above valuation procedures are deemed not to reflect fair value are valued in a manner that is intended to reflect their fair value as determined in accordance with procedures approved by the Trustees.

The Fund adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, effective at the beginning of the Fund's fiscal year. Disclosure about the classification of fair value measurements is included at the end of the Fund's Investment Portfolio.

New Accounting Pronouncement. In March 2008, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 ("FAS 161"), "Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities". FAS 161 requires enhanced disclosure about an entity's derivative and hedging activities including qualitative disclosures about the objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative agreements. FAS 161 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. Management is currently reviewing the enhanced disclosure requirements for the adoption of FAS 161.

When-Issued/Delayed Delivery Securities. The Fund may purchase securities with delivery or payment to occur at a later date beyond the normal settlement period. At the time the Fund enters into a commitment to purchase a security, the transaction is recorded and the value of the security is reflected in the net asset value. The price of such security and the date when the security will be delivered and paid for are fixed at the time the transaction is negotiated. The value of the security may vary with market fluctuations. No interest accrues to the Fund until payment takes place. At the time the Fund enters into this type of transaction it is required to segregate cash or other liquid assets at least equal to the amount of the commitment.

Certain risks may arise upon entering into when-issued or delayed delivery securities from the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts or if the issuer does not issue the securities due to political, economic, or other factors. Additionally, losses may arise due to changes in the value of the underlying securities.

Inverse Floaters. Inverse floating rate notes are debt instruments with a weekly floating rate of interest that bears an inverse relationship to changes in short-term market interest rates. Investments in this type of instrument involve special risks as compared to investments in a fixed rate municipal security. The debt instrument in which the Fund may invest is a tender option bond trust (the "trust") which can be established by the Fund, a financial institution, or broker, consisting of underlying municipal obligations with intermediate to long maturities and a fixed interest rate ("underlying bond"). Other investors in the trust usually consist of money market fund investors receiving weekly floating interest rate payments who have put options with the financial institutions. The Fund may enter into shortfall and forbearance agreements by which a Fund agrees to reimburse the trust, in certain circumstances, for the difference between the liquidation value of the fixed rate municipal security held by the trust and the liquidation value of the floating rate notes. Certain inverse floating rate securities held by the Fund have been created with bonds purchased by the Fund and subsequently transferred to the trust. These transactions are considered a form of financing for accounting purposes. As a result, the Fund includes the underlying bond in its investment portfolio and a corresponding liability in the statement of assets and liabilities equal to the floating rate note issued. When a trust is terminated and/or collapsed by either party, the related fixed rate securities held by the trust are delivered back to the Fund where they are either held or sold, and the related liability of the floating rate note issued is adjusted. The Fund does not consider the Fund's investment in inverse floaters borrowing within the meaning of the 1940 Act. Inverse floating rate notes exhibit added interest rate sensitivity compared to other bonds with a similar maturity. Moreover, since these securities are in a trust form, a sale may take longer to settle than the standard two days after the trade date.

The weighted average outstanding daily balance of the floating rate notes during the year ended November 30, 2008 was approximately $136,833,000, with a weighted average interest rate of 2.83%.

Federal Income Taxes. The Fund's policy is to comply with the requirements of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, which are applicable to regulated investment companies, and to distribute all of its taxable and tax-exempt income to its shareholders.

At November 30, 2008, the Fund had a net tax basis capital loss carryforward of approximately $9,605,000, which may be applied against any realized net taxable capital gains of each succeeding year until fully utilized or until November 30, 2010 ($1,323,000), November 30, 2014 ($912,000) and November 30, 2016 ($7,370,000), the respective expiration dates, whichever occurs first. During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Fund lost, through expiration, $3,602,000 of prior year capital loss carryforward.

In addition, from November 1, 2008 through November 30, 2008, the Fund incurred approximately $2,191,000 of net realized capital losses. As permitted by tax regulations, the Fund intends to elect to defer these losses and treat them as arising in the fiscal year ended November 30, 2009.

The Fund has reviewed the tax positions for the open tax years as of November 30, 2008 and has determined that no provision for income tax is required in the Fund's financial statements. The Fund's federal tax returns for the prior three fiscal years remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service.

Distribution of Income and Gains. Net investment income of the Fund is declared and distributed to shareholders monthly. Net realized gains from investment transactions, in excess of available capital loss carryforwards, would be taxable to the Fund if not distributed, and, therefore, will be distributed to shareholders at least annually.

The timing and characterization of certain income and capital gains distributions are determined annually in accordance with federal tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These differences primarily relate to certain securities sold at a loss and accretion of market discount on debt securities. As a result, net investment income (loss) and net realized gain (loss) on investment transactions for a reporting period may differ significantly from distributions during such period. Accordingly, the Fund may periodically make reclassifications among certain of its capital accounts without impacting the net asset value of the Fund.

At November 30, 2008, the Fund's components of distributable earnings (accumulated losses) on a tax-basis were as follows:

In addition, the tax character of distributions paid to shareholders by the Fund is summarized as follows:

Remarketed Preferred Shares. The Fund has issued and outstanding 10,800 Series A, 10,700 Series B, 10,800 Series C, 10,700 Series D and 10,000 Series E remarketed preferred shares ("Remarketed Preferred Shares"), each at a liquidation value of $5,000 per share. The Remarketed Preferred Shares are senior to and have certain class specific preferences over the common shares. The dividend rate on each series of Remarketed Preferred Shares is set through a remarketing process, and the dividends are generally paid every seven days (prior to March 18, 2008, dividends were paid every 28 days). The remarketing agent receives an annualized fee from the Fund of 0.25% times the liquidation value of the Fund's Remarketed Preferred Shares (remarketing agent fee) and is responsible for the payment of any commissions to broker-dealers participating in the remarketing process based on shares sold. Currently, the remarketing agent is the only participating broker-dealer. When remarketing the Remarketed Preferred Shares, the remarketing agent canvasses the Remarketed Preferred Shares market and may receive indications of dividend preferences from Remarketed Preferred Shares investors. Based on its assessment of the demand for the Remarketed Preferred Shares as well as other factors, including interest rates and general industry and financial conditions, the remarketing agent determines a non-binding dividend rate for the next dividend period. The remarketing agent then receives buy, tender and hold orders from existing and potential holders. The remarketing agent sets the final dividend rate at the lowest available that would enable the remarketing agent to remarket all of the shares tendered at the Remarketed Preferred Shares liquidation preference of $5,000 per share. For remarketing to be successful, the number of shares bid must meet or exceed the number of shares being offered for sale. Recent remarketings have failed because there were not enough bids to cover the shares for sale. If a remarketing fails, the Remarketed Preferred Shares' dividend rate adjusts to a "maximum rate," which, based on current Remarketed Preferred Share ratings (AAA as of November 30, 2008), is determined to be the maximum rate, initially 110% of the Commercial Paper Rate (generally defined as the 60-day AA/Aa commercial paper rate). The maximum rate increases to 125% of the Commercial Paper Rate on the seventh day after such determination. In addition, existing Remarketed Preferred Shareholders that submit sell orders in a failed remarketing may not be able to sell any or all of the shares for which they have submitted sell orders. Remarketed Preferred Shareholders may sell their shares at the next scheduled remarketing, subject to the same risk that the subsequent remarketing will not attract sufficient demand for a successful remarketing to occur. The next succeeding dividend period following the remarketing failure automatically adjusts to a 7-day period, which continues until the next successful remarketing. Broker-dealers may also try to facilitate secondary trading in the Remarketed Preferred Shares, although such secondary trading may be limited and may only be available for shareholders willing to sell at a discount.

During the year ended November 30, 2008, the dividend rates ranged from 1.681% to 4.900% for Series A, 1.681% to 5.100% for Series B, 1.681% to 4.900% for Series C, 1.681% to 4.750% for Series D and 1.681% to 5.000% for Series E. The 1940 Act requires that the Remarketed Preferred Shareholders of the Fund, voting as a separate class, have the right to: a) elect at least two trustees at all times, and b) elect a majority of the trustees at any time when dividends on the Remarketed Preferred Shares are unpaid for two full years. Unless otherwise required by law or under the terms of the Remarketed Preferred Shares designation statement, each Remarketed Preferred Shareholder is entitled to one vote and Remarketed Preferred Shareholders will vote together with common shareholders as a single class and have the same voting rights.

Since February 2008, the Fund, like many other closed-end funds throughout the industry, has experienced failed remarketings on its Remarketed Preferred Shares. Recent remarketings have failed because there were not enough bids to cover the shares for sale, indicating a lack of liquidity in the market. While repeated remarketing fails have affected the liquidity for the Remarketed Preferred Shares, a failed remarketing does not represent a default or loss of capital of the Fund's Remarketed Preferred Shares and the Remarketed Preferred Shareholders have continued to receive dividends at the previously defined "maximum rate". As of November 30, 2008, the Remarketed Preferred Shares of the Fund continue to be AAA rated by its respective rating agencies. Prolonged remarketing failures may increase the cost of leverage to the Fund. DWS continues to evaluate alternatives for restructuring the leverage of the Fund.

Statement of Cash Flows. Information on financial transactions which have been settled through the receipt and disbursement of cash is presented in the Statement of Cash Flows. The cash amount shown in the Statement of Cash Flows represents the cash position at the Fund's custodian bank at November 30, 2008. Previously, the Fund has utilized the direct method for presentation of its Statement of Cash Flows. The Fund has changed its presentation to the indirect method, which it believes provides a useful format and conforms to more common industry practice.

Contingencies. In the normal course of business, the Fund may enter into contracts with service providers that contain general indemnification clauses. The Fund's maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet been made. However, based on experience, the Fund expects the risk of loss to be remote.

Other. Investment transactions are accounted for on a trade date plus one basis for daily net asset value calculations. However, for financial reporting purposes, investment transactions are reported on trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are recorded on an identified cost basis. All premiums and discounts are amortized/accreted for financial reporting purposes, with the exception of securities in default of principal.

B. Purchases and Sales of Securities

During the year ended November 30, 2008, purchases and sales of investment securities (excluding short-term investments) aggregated $1,090,515,429 and $975,577,861, respectively.

C. Related Parties

Management Agreement. Under the Investment Management Agreement with Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. ("DIMA" or the "Advisor"), an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank AG, the Advisor directs the investments of the Fund in accordance with its investment objectives, policies and restrictions. The Advisor determines the securities, instruments and other contracts relating to investments to be purchased, sold or entered into by the Fund. In addition to portfolio management services, the Advisor provides certain administrative services in accordance with the Investment Management Agreement. The management fee payable under the Investment Management Agreement is equal to an annual rate of 0.55% of the Fund's average weekly total net assets, computed and accrued daily and payable monthly.

Service Provider Fees. DWS Investments Service Company ("DISC"), an affiliate of the Advisor, is the transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent for the Fund. Pursuant to a sub-transfer agency agreement between DISC and DST Systems, Inc. ("DST"), DISC has delegated certain transfer agent, dividend-paying agent and shareholder service agent functions to DST. DISC compensates DST out of the shareholder servicing fee it receives from the Fund. For the year ended November 30, 2008, the amount charged to the Fund by DISC aggregated $86,099, of which $25,317 is unpaid.

Typesetting and Filing Service Fees. Under an agreement with DIMA, DIMA is compensated for providing typesetting and certain regulatory filing services to the Fund. For the year ended November 30, 2008, the amount charged to the Fund by DIMA included in the Statement of Operations under "reports to shareholders" aggregated $8,874, all of which was paid.

Trustees' Fees and Expenses. The Fund paid each Trustee not affiliated with the Advisor retainer fees plus specified amounts for various committee services and for the Board Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.

In connection with the board consolidation on April 1, 2008, of the two DWS Funds Boards of Trustees, certain Independent Board Members retired prior to their normal retirement date, and received a one-time retirement benefit. DIMA has agreed to reimburse the Funds for the cost of this benefit. During the period ended November 30, 2008, the Fund paid its allocated portion of the retirement benefit of $35,866 to the non-continuing Independent Board Members, and the Fund was reimbursed by DIMA for this payment.

Other Related Parties. Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, an affiliate of the Advisor, charges an administration fee for the remarketed preferred shares. For the year ended November 30, 2008, the amount charged to the Fund by Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas aggregated $24,888, all of which is unpaid.

D. Fee Reductions

For the year ended November 30, 2008, the Advisor agreed to reimburse the Fund $737, which represents a portion of the expected fee savings for the Advisor through December 31, 2007, related to the outsourcing by the Advisor of certain administrative services to an unaffiliated service provider.

In addition, the Fund has entered into an arrangement with its custodian and transfer agent whereby credits realized as a result of uninvested cash balances are used to reduce a portion of the Fund's custodian expenses. During the year ended November 30, 2008, the Fund's custodian fee was reduced by $4,534 and $3,764, respectively, for custodian and transfer agent credits earned.

E. Line of Credit

The Fund and other affiliated funds (the "Participants") share in a $490 million revolving credit facility provided by a syndication of banks. The Fund may borrow for temporary or emergency purposes, including the meeting of redemption requests that otherwise might require the untimely disposition of securities. The Participants are charged an annual commitment fee which is allocated based on net assets, among each of the Participants. Interest is calculated at the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.35 percent. The Fund may borrow up to a maximum of 33 percent of its net assets under the agreement.

F. Payment made by Affiliates

During the year ended November 30, 2007, the Advisor reimbursed the Fund $175,116 for a fee previously charged to the Fund. This reimbursement was treated as a capital contribution and is reported as "Reimbursement by Advisor" on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Trustees and Shareholders of DWS Municipal Income Trust:

We have audited the accompanying statement of assets and liabilities of DWS Municipal Income Trust (the "Fund"), including the investment portfolio, as of November 30, 2008, and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the year then ended, the statement of changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial statements and financial highlights are the responsibility of the Fund's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial highlights based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements and financial highlights are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Fund's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements and financial highlights, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our procedures included confirmation of securities owned as of November 30, 2008, by correspondence with the custodian and brokers or by other appropriate auditing procedures where replies from brokers were not received. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements and financial highlights referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of DWS Municipal Income Trust at November 30, 2008, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended, the changes in its net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, and the financial highlights for each of the five years in the period then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Boston, Massachusetts January 20, 2009

Tax Information (Unaudited)

Of the dividends paid from net investment income for the taxable year ended November 30, 2008, 100% are designated as exempt-interest dividends for federal income tax purposes.

Please contact a tax advisor if you have questions about federal or state income tax laws, or on how to prepare your tax returns. If you have specific questions about your account, please call (800) 294-4366.

Other Information

Certifications

The fund's chief executive officer has certified to the New York Stock Exchange that, as of June 16, 2008, he was not aware of any violation by the fund of applicable NYSE corporate governance listing standards. The fund's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Forms N-CSR and N-Q contain certifications by the fund's chief executive officer and chief financial officer that relate to the fund's disclosure in such reports and that are required by rule 30a-2 under the 1940 Act.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan

A summary of the Fund's Dividend Reinvestment Plan (the "Plan") is set forth below. Shareholders may obtain a copy of the entire Plan by visiting the Fund's Web site at www.dws-investments.com or by writing or calling DWS Investment Service Company ("DISC") at:

P.O. Box 219066
Kansas City, Missouri 64121-9066
(800) 294-4366

If you wish to participate in the Plan and your shares are held in your own name, simply contact DISC for the appropriate form. If your shares are held in the name of a broker or other nominee, you should contact the broker or nominee in whose name your shares are held to determine whether and how you may participate in the Plan. The Fund's transfer agent and dividend disbursing agent (the "Transfer Agent") will establish a Dividend Investment Account (the "Account") for each shareholder participating in the Plan. The Transfer Agent will credit to the Account of each participant any cash dividends and capital gains distributions (collectively, "Distributions") paid on shares of the Fund (the "Shares"). Shares in a participant's Account are transferable upon proper written instructions to the Transfer Agent. Upon request to the Transfer Agent, a certificate for any or all full Shares in a participant's Account will be sent to the participant.

If, on the record date for a Distribution (the "Record Date"), Shares are trading at a discount from net asset value per Share, funds credited to a participant's Account will be used to purchase Shares (the "Purchase"). The Plan Agent (currently Computershare Inc.) will attempt, commencing five days prior to the Payment Date and ending at the close of business on the Payment Date ("Payment Date" as used herein shall mean the last business day of the month in which such Record Date occurs), to acquire Shares in the open market. If and to the extent that the Plan Agent is unable to acquire sufficient Shares to satisfy the Distribution by the close of business on the Payment Date, the Fund will issue to the Plan Agent, Shares valued at net asset value per Share in the aggregate amount of the remaining value of the Distribution. If, on the Record Date, Shares are trading at a premium over net asset value per Share, the Fund will issue on the Payment Date Shares valued at net asset value per Share on the Record Date to the Transfer Agent in the aggregate amount of the funds credited to the participants' Accounts. The Fund will increase the price at which Shares may be issued under the Plan to 95% of the fair market value of the shares on the Record Date if the net asset value per Share of the Shares on the Record Date is less than 95% of the fair market value of the Shares on the Record Date.

The cost of Shares acquired for each participant's Account in connection with a Purchase shall be determined by the average cost per Share, including brokerage commissions, of the Shares acquired in connection with that Purchase. There will be no brokerage charges with respect to Shares issued directly by the Fund as a result of Distributions. However, each participant will pay a pro rata share of brokerage commissions incurred with respect to open market purchases. Brokerage charges for purchasing small amounts of Shares for individual Accounts through the Plan can be expected to be less than the usual brokerage charges for such transactions, as the Plan Agent will be purchasing Shares for all participants in blocks and prorating the lower commission thus attainable.

A participant may from time to time make voluntary cash contributions to his Account in a minimum amount of $100 (no more than $500 may be contributed per month). Participants making voluntary cash investments will be charged a $0.75 service fee for each such investment and will be responsible for their pro rata share of brokerage commissions. Please contact DISC for more information on voluntary cash contributions.

The Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan, including provisions with respect to any Distribution paid, subsequent to notice thereof sent to participants in the Plan at least ninety days before the record date for such Distribution, except when such amendment is necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law or the rules or policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other regulatory authority, in which case such amendment shall be effective as soon as practicable. The Plan may be terminated by the Fund.

Shareholders may withdraw from the Plan at any time by giving the Transfer Agent a written notice. A notice of withdrawal will be effective for the next Distribution following receipt of the notice by the Transfer Agent provided the notice is received by the Transfer Agent at least ten days prior to the Record Date for the Distribution. When a participant withdraws from the Plan, or when the Plan is terminated by the Fund, the participant will receive a certificate for full Shares in the Account, plus a check for any fractional Shares based on market price; or, if a Participant so desires, the Transfer Agent will notify the Plan Agent to sell his Shares in the Plan and send the proceeds to the participant, less brokerage commissions and a $2.50 service fee.

Shareholders will receive tax information annually for personal records and to assist in preparation of their federal income tax returns. If Shares are purchased at a discount, the amount of the discount is considered taxable income and is added to the cost basis of the purchased Shares.

Investment Management Agreement Approval

The Board of Trustees, including the Independent Trustees, approved the renewal of your Fund's investment management agreement (the "Agreement") with Deutsche Investment Management Americas Inc. ("DIMA") in September 2008.

In terms of the process that the Board followed prior to approving the Agreement, shareholders should know that:

• At the present time, all but one of your Fund's Trustees are independent of DIMA and its affiliates.

• The Trustees meet frequently to discuss fund matters. Each year, the Trustees dedicate part or all of several meetings to contract review matters. Over the course of several months, the Board's Contract Committee, in coordination with the Board's Fixed Income and Quant Oversight Committee, reviewed comprehensive materials received from DIMA, independent third parties and independent counsel. These materials included an analysis of the Fund's performance, fees and expenses, and profitability compiled by the Fund's independent fee consultant. The Board also received extensive information throughout the year regarding performance of the Fund.

• The Independent Trustees regularly meet privately with their independent counsel (and, as needed, other advisors) to discuss contract review and other matters. In addition, the Independent Trustees were also advised by the Fund's independent fee consultant in the course of their review of the Fund's contractual arrangements and considered a comprehensive report prepared by the independent fee consultant in connection with their deliberations (the "IFC Report").

• In connection with reviewing the Agreement, the Board also reviewed the terms of the Fund's transfer agency agreement and other material service agreements.

• Based on its evaluation of the information provided, the Contract Committee presented its findings and recommendations to the Independent Trustees as a group. The Independent Trustees reviewed the Contract Committee's findings and recommendations and presented their recommendations to the full Board.

In connection with the contract review process, the Contract Committee and the Board considered the factors discussed below, among others. The Board also considered that DIMA and its predecessors have managed the Fund since its inception, and the Board believes that a long-term relationship with a capable, conscientious advisor is in the best interests of the Fund. The Board considered, generally, that shareholders chose to invest or remain invested in the Fund knowing that DIMA managed the Fund. DIMA is part of Deutsche Bank, a major global banking institution that is engaged in a wide range of financial services. The Board believes that there are significant advantages to being part of a global asset management business that offers a wide range of investing expertise and resources, including hundreds of portfolio managers and analysts with research capabilities in many countries throughout the world.

While shareholders may focus primarily on fund performance and fees, the Fund's Board considers these and many other factors, including the quality and integrity of DIMA's personnel and such other issues as back-office operations, fund valuations, and compliance policies and procedures.

Nature, Quality and Extent of Services. The Board considered the terms of the Agreement, including the scope of advisory services provided under the Agreement. The Board noted that, under the Agreement, DIMA provides portfolio management and administrative services to the Fund. The Board considered the experience and skills of senior management and investment personnel, the resources made available to such personnel, the ability of DIMA to attract and retain high-quality personnel, and the organizational depth and stability of DIMA. The Board reviewed the Fund's performance over short-term and long-term periods and compared those returns to various agreed-upon performance measures, including market indices and a peer universe compiled by the independent fee consultant using information supplied by Lipper Inc. ("Lipper"). The Board also noted that it has put a process into place of identifying "Focus Funds" (e.g., funds performing poorly relative to their benchmark or a peer group compiled by Lipper), and receives more frequent reporting and information from DIMA regarding such funds, along with DIMA's remedial plans to address underperformance. The Board believes this process is an effective manner of identifying and addressing underperforming funds. Based on the information provided, the Board noted that for the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2007, the Fund's performance was in the 1st quartile, 4th quartile and 4th quartile, respectively, of the applicable Lipper universe (the 1st quartile being the best performers and the 4th quartile being the worst performers). The Board also observed that the Fund has underperformed its benchmark in each of the one- and three-year periods ended December 31, 2007 and outperformed its benchmark in the five-year period ended December 31, 2007. The Board noted the disappointing investment performance of the Fund in recent periods and continued to discuss with senior management of DIMA the factors contributing to such underperformance and actions being taken to improve performance.

On the basis of this evaluation and the ongoing review of investment results by the Board, the Board concluded that the nature, quality and extent of services provided by DIMA historically have been and continue to be satisfactory.

Fees and Expenses. The Board considered the Fund's investment management fee schedule, operating expenses, and total expense ratios, and comparative information provided by Lipper and the independent fee consultant regarding investment management fee rates paid to other investment advisors by similar funds (1st quartile being the most favorable and 4th quartile being the least favorable). With respect to management fees paid to other investment advisors by similar funds, the Board noted that the contractual fee rates paid by the Fund were lower than the median (1st quartile) of the applicable Lipper peer group (based on Lipper data provided as of December 31, 2007). The Board noted that the Fund's total (net) operating expenses were expected to be higher than the median (3rd quartile) of the applicable Lipper expense universe (based on Lipper data provided as of December 31, 2007). The Board considered the Fund's management fee rate as compared to fees charged by DIMA and certain of its affiliates for comparable mutual funds and considered differences in fund and fee structures between the DWS Funds. The Board also considered how the Fund's total (net) operating expenses compared to the total (net) operating expenses of a more customized peer group selected by Lipper (based on such factors as asset size).

On the basis of the information provided, the Board concluded that management fees were reasonable and appropriate in light of the nature, quality and extent of services provided by DIMA.

Profitability. The Board reviewed detailed information regarding revenues received by DIMA under the Agreement. The Board considered the estimated costs and pre-tax profits realized by DIMA from advising the DWS Funds, as well as estimates of the pre-tax profits attributable to managing the Fund in particular. The Board also received information regarding the estimated enterprise-wide profitability of the DWS Investments organization with respect to all fund services in totality and by fund. The Board reviewed DIMA's methodology in allocating its costs to the management of the Fund. Based on the information provided, the Board concluded that the pre-tax profits realized by DIMA in connection with the management of the Fund were not unreasonable. The Board also reviewed information regarding the profitability of certain similar investment management firms. The Board noted that while information regarding the profitability of such firms is limited (and in some cases is not necessarily prepared on a comparable basis), DIMA and its affiliates' overall profitability with respect to the DWS Investments fund complex (after taking into account distribution and other services provided to the funds by DIMA and its affiliates) was lower than the overall profitability levels of many comparable firms for which such data was available.

Economies of Scale. The Board considered whether there are economies of scale with respect to the management of the Fund and whether the Fund benefits from any economies of scale. The Board concluded that the Fund's fee schedule represents an appropriate sharing between the Fund and DIMA of such economies of scale as may exist in the management of the Fund at current asset levels.

Other Benefits to DIMA and Its Affiliates. The Board also considered the character and amount of other incidental benefits received by DIMA and its affiliates, including any fees received by DIMA for administrative services provided to the Fund and any fees received by an affiliate of DIMA for distribution services. The Board also considered benefits to DIMA related to brokerage and soft-dollar allocations, including allocating brokerage to pay for research generated by parties other than the executing broker dealers, which pertain primarily to funds investing in equity securities, along with the incidental public relations benefits to DIMA related to DWS Funds advertising and cross-selling opportunities among DWS Investments products and services. The Board concluded that management fees were reasonable in light of these fallout benefits.

Compliance. The Board considered the significant attention and resources dedicated by DIMA to documenting and enhancing its compliance processes in recent years. The Board noted in particular (i) the experience and seniority of DIMA's chief compliance officer; (ii) the large number of compliance personnel who report to DIMA's chief compliance officer; and (iii) the substantial commitment of resources by DIMA and its affiliates to compliance matters.

Based on all of the information considered and the conclusions reached, the Board (including a majority of the Independent Trustees) determined that the continuation of the Agreement is in the best interests of the Fund. In making this determination the Board did not give particular weight to any single factor identified above. The Board considered these factors over the course of numerous meetings, certain of which were in executive session with only the Independent Trustees and their counsel present. It is possible that individual Trustees may have weighed these factors differently in reaching their individual decisions to approve the continuation of the Agreement.

Trustees and Officers

The following table presents certain information regarding the Board Members and Officers of the Trust as of November 30, 2008. Each Board Member's year of birth is set forth in parentheses after his or her name. Unless otherwise noted, (i) each Board Member has engaged in the principal occupation(s) noted in the table for at least the most recent five years, although not necessarily in the same capacity; and (ii) the address of each Independent Board Member is c/o Dawn-Marie Driscoll, PO Box 100176, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Except as otherwise noted below, the term of office for each Board Member is until the election and qualification of a successor, or until such Board Member sooner dies, resigns, is removed or as otherwise provided in the governing documents of the fund. The Board Members may also serve in similar capacities with other funds in the fund complex. The Length of Time Served represents the year in which the Board Member joined the board of one or more DWS funds now overseen by the Board.

Additional Information

Notes

Notes