-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000894010-04-000021.txt : 20041117
<SEC-HEADER>0000894010-04-000021.hdr.sgml : 20041117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041117102013
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000894010-04-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOWREY P LANG III
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001025145

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20828
		FILM NUMBER:		041151042

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7275792463

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

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:		11101 ROOSEVELT BOULEVARD
		CITY:			ST PETERSBURG
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33716
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7276222100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11101 ROOSEVELT BOULEVARD
		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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001025145</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOWREY P LANG III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DANKA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11101 ROOSEVELT BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST PETERSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33716</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>American Depositary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>216800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>236030</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>American Depositary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>216800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.9511</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19230</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Keith J. Nelsen as Attorney-in-Fact for P. Lang Lowrey, III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----