-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HXR6dVVl10oNAYdqj+xIbWhmeIc+GeJnznY7OSjJJtj2v5Wiu6hSQU6URQnfdQWL
 Lsi/nSRJ/EBoDZcsjtZJvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000721683-08-000017.txt : 20080812
<SEC-HEADER>0000721683-08-000017.hdr.sgml : 20080812
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080812142608
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000721683-08-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080812
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080812

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000721683
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				581493818
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 FIRST AVENUE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 1755
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7066492267

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1600 FIRST AVENUE
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31901

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARRIS SIDNEY E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001128834

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10254
		FILM NUMBER:		081009313

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SERVICEMASTER
		STREET 2:		2300 WARRENVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
		BUSINESS PHONE:		706-649-4793

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1111 BAY AVENUE, SUITE 501
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			31901
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000721683</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001128834</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARRIS SIDNEY E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CONCOURSE CENTER, SUITE 3000</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIVE CONCOURSE PKWY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30328</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>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>177</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8856</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Purchase through issuer's director stock purchase plan</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares acquired through dividend reinvestment</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Garilou Page, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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