<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-16-057571.txt : 20160706
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-16-057571.hdr.sgml : 20160706
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160706163326
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-16-057571
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160422
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160706
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160706

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:			WILKINS GERALD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208386

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-16111
		FILM NUMBER:		161754131
</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>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208386</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILKINS GERALD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NORTH TOWER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30328</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>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4825</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>75.86</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21825</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>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3175</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>75.86</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3175</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held by Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </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">Received in exchange for 7,216 shares of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc. common stock in connection with the merger. Represents the volume weighted average trading price of Global Payments 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">Received in exchange for 4,748 shares of Heartland Payment Systems, Inc.  common stock in connection with the merger. Represents the volume weighted average trading price of Global Payments 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="F4">Shares held in the name of the reporting person's spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David L. Green, as attorney-in-fact for Gerald Wilkins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
