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

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-01-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000897893</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEERLESS SYSTEMS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PRLS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001565415</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Tsai Yi</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>51 CROSS HWY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options to acquire common stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-01-15</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-01-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Such shares of restricted common stock were issued to Mr. Tsai upon his appointment as Chief Financial Officer and shall vest upon the Company's timely filing of its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2014 with the U.S. Securities and Excange Commission, provided that Mr. Tsai remains an employee in good standing continuing to fulfill his duties as the Company's Chief Financial Officer at the time of filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Such options were issued to Mr. Tsai upon his appointment as Chief Financial Officer and shall vest on January 15, 2014 provided that Mr. Tsai remains an employee in good standing on such date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Yi Tsai</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
