<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001362118-12-000065.txt : 20120523
<SEC-HEADER>0001362118-12-000065.hdr.sgml : 20120523
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120523142621
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001362118-12-000065
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120523
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120523

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GOLDBERG LUELLA G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189997

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31588
		FILM NUMBER:		12863959

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 HORMEL PLACE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			55912

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:		10900 RED CIRCLE DRIVE
		CITY:			MINNETONKA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55343
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9529961674

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10900 RED CIRCLE DRIVE
		CITY:			MINNETONKA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55343
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189997</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLDBERG LUELLA G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 HORMEL PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55912</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3697</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18323</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The common stock reported reflects restricted stock units that will only be settled in common stock and will not be delivered to the reporting person until May 22, 2014 and the reporting person has no right to the shares until that date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares represented by the restricted stock units vest on the earlier of: a) May 22, 2012 or b) the date of the 2013 Communications Systems, Inc. Annual Meeting of Shareholders.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares were computed based on the Nasdaq closing price of Communications Systems, Inc. stock on May 22, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Getey M. Ritchott, Attorney-in-Fact for Luella G. Goldberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-05-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
