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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-04-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001386926</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KKR Financial Holdings LLC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KFN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001370821</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Collins Tracy Lynn</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KKR FINANCIAL HOLDINGS LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>555 CALIFORNIA STREET, 50TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-04-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>68043</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </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">Includes 14,538 restricted common shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, made and entered into as of December 16, 2013, by and among KKR &amp; Co. L.P., KKR Fund Holdings L.P., Copal Merger Sub LLC and the Issuer, Copal Merger Sub LLC was merged with and into the Issuer.  Upon the consummation of the merger, each outstanding common share held by the reporting person was automatically converted into the right to receive 0.51 common units of KKR &amp; Co. L.P.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Upon the consummation of the merger, each outstanding restricted common share held by the reporting person was automatically converted into 0.51 restricted common units of KKR &amp; Co. L.P. having the same terms and conditions, including with respect to vesting, as applied immediately prior to the consummation of the merger.  Pursuant to the terms of the Issuer's 2007 Share Incentive Plan and the associated share award agreement, upon the reporting person's resignation as a director of the Issuer, which became effective upon the consummation of the merger, each restricted common unit of KKR &amp; Co. L.P. received by the reporting person in the merger was automatically canceled and forfeited for no value.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tracy L. Collins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
