<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-04-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>true</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000714603</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DST SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DST</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242238</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LISS SAMUEL G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>545 WASHINGTON BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>JERSEY CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07310</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-04-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18492</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>84</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Consists of shares of common stock that were cancelled in exchange for $84.00 per share pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the Merger Agreement) dated as of January 11, 2018 among DST Systems, Inc. (the Company), SS&amp;C Technologies Holdings, Inc. (SS&amp;C) and Diamond Merger Sub, Inc. (Merger Sub), pursuant to which Merger Subs will merge (the Merger) with and into the Company, whereupon the existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Company will become the surviving corporation and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of SS&amp;C. The Merger became effective on April 16, 2018 (the Effective Time).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Samuel G. Liss</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-04-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
