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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A+dCHm6o9jb4tLN4/NaZczGzlXSAOrqUuR4D4mknQI8J1fC8XYRLpu7Jaq85vv78
 pbXkZGzO2vQLfg/uaIPW8w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000022701-04-000033.txt : 20040604
<SEC-HEADER>0000022701-04-000033.hdr.sgml : 20040604
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040604143714
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000022701-04-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040604

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAMPSON WAYNE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000941304

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31588
		FILM NUMBER:		04849572

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		211 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			HECTOR
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55342

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		805 RIANBOW CT
		CITY:			STILLWATER
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55082-6115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000022701
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE & TELEGRAPH APPARATUS [3661]
		IRS NUMBER:				410957999
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		213 S MAIN ST
		CITY:			HECTOR
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55342
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3208486231

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		213 MAIN STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 777
		CITY:			HECTOR
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55342
</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>2004-05-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000022701</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JCS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000941304</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SAMPSON WAYNE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>805 RIANBOW CT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STILLWATER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55082-6115</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.28</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.28</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-05-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Stock Option</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired pursuant to CSI's Stock Option Plan for non-employee directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paul N Hanson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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