-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 G7ZpdE/vfOd0ry2m+zaw8gWP4omIocbpWhTkhXbvB12Wz9AoxaWsqdH/m9myiefV
 +vU0vUBs5I0giAZKebLLxQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000894010-03-000013.txt : 20030909
<SEC-HEADER>0000894010-03-000013.hdr.sgml : 20030909
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030909142947
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000894010-03-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030904
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030909

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DANKA BUSINESS SYSTEMS PLC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000894010
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-PROFESSIONAL & COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5040]
		IRS NUMBER:				980052869
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11201 DANKA CIRCLE N
		CITY:			ST PETERSBURG
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33716
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7275766003

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11201 DANKA CIRCLE NORTH
		CITY:			ST PETERSBURG
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33716

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAVIS TODD L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213615

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20828
		FILM NUMBER:		03887771

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DANKA
		STREET 2:		11201 DANKA CIRCLE NORTH
		CITY:			ST PETERSBURG
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33716
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7275792463

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DANKA
		STREET 2:		11201 DANKA CIRCLE NORTH
		CITY:			ST PETERSBURG
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33716
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000894010</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DANKA BUSINESS SYSTEMS PLC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>danky</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213615</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MAVIS TODD L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DANKA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11101 ROOSEVELT BLVD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST PETERSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33716</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COO &amp; President - Danka US</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.42</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.42</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-09-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-09-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>American Depositary Shares</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>505000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option is exercisable 5 years after issuance but may vest earlier dependent upon certain criteria.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Keith J. Nelsen as Attorney-in Fact for Todd Mavis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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