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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001268671</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TNS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TNS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001082684</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CANFIELD PHILIP A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6100 SEARS TOWER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28707</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10439080</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12303</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4473891</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>136532</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1270</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>461765</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares reported in Table I, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">GTCR Fund VII, L.P. (&quot;Fund VII&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR Partners VII, L.P. (&quot;GTCR Partners VII&quot;) is the general partner of Fund VII and GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. (&quot;GTCR&quot;) is the general partner of GTCR Partners VII.  As such, GTCR Partners VII and GTCR may be deemed to be beneficial owners of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR is managed by its members.  The Reporting Person is a member of GTCR and GTCR Partners VII and may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the issuer's Common Stock owned by Fund VII to the extent of the Reporting Person's indirect proportionate interest in Fund VII.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">GTCR Fund VII/A, L.P. (&quot;Fund VII/A&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR Partners VII is the general partner of Fund VII/A and GTCR is the general partner of GTCR Partners VII.  As such, GTCR Partners VII and GTCR may be deemed to be beneficial owners of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR is managed by its members.  The Reporting Person is a member of GTCR and GTCR Partners VII and may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the issuer's Common Stock owned by Fund VII/A to the extent of the Reporting Person's indirect proportionate interest in Fund VII/A.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">GTCR Co-Invest, L.P. (&quot;Co-Invest&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR is the general partner of Co-Invest.  As such, GTCR may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR is managed by its members.  The Reporting Person is a member of GTCR and may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the issuer's Common Stock owned by Co-Invest to the extent of the Reporting Person's indirect proportionate interest in Co-Invest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">GTCR Capital Partners, L.P. (&quot;Capital Partners&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR Mezzanine Partners, L.P. (&quot;Mezzanine Partners&quot;) is the general partner of Capital Partners.  GTCR Partners VI, L.P. (&quot;GTCR Partners VI&quot;) is the general partner of Mezzanine Partners.  GTCR is the general partner of GTCR Partners VI.  As such, Mezzanine Partners, GTCR Partners VI and GTCR may be deemed to be beneficial owners of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR is managed by its members.  The Reporting Person is a member of GTCR, Mezzanine Partners and GTCR Partners VI and may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the issuer's Common Stock owned by Capital Partners to the extent of the Reporting Person's indirect proportionate interest in Capital Partners.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas N. Blanchard under Powers of Attorney dated 03/16/04</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

