<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-16-049968.txt : 20160426
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-16-049968.hdr.sgml : 20160426
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160426214727
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-16-049968
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160422
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160426
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160426

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001123360
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				582567903
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0512

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		NORTH TOWER
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30328
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7708298030

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		NORTH TOWER
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30328

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOLLIN MITCHELL L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001331604

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16111
		FILM NUMBER:		161593203

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO GREENVILLE CROSSING
		STREET 2:		4005 KENNETH PIKE, SUITE 220
		CITY:			GREENVILLE
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19807
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123360</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001331604</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOLLIN MITCHELL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NORTH TOWER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30308</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-04-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>29997</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>75.86</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29997</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-04-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>989</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>73.29</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30986</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 15,2015, by and among Global Payments Inc. and Heartland Payments Systems Inc., and certain wholly owned subsidiaries of Global Payments Inc. (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the volume weighted average trading price of Global Payment Inc.'s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the five consecutive trading days preceding the closing date, in accordance with the terms of the Merger Agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents fully-vested shares of common stock, which were granted to the reporting person as compensation for service as a non-employee director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Green, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Mitchell L. Hollin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
