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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-04-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000739421</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CZFS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215845</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAZZAGLIA CYNTHIA T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON CLASS</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-04-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>242</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3474.1605</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>STOCK AWARDS GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 2006 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN VEST IN THREE EQUAL ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS COMMENCING ON APRIL 12, 2011.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GINA MARIE BOOR FOR CYNTHIA T. PAZZAGLIA UNDER POWER OF ATTORNEY DATED 08/29/2002</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-04-12
0
0000739421
CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
CZFS
0001215845
PAZZAGLIA CYNTHIA T
0
1
0
0
VICE PRESIDENT
COMMON CLASS
2010-04-12
4
A
0
242
0
A
3474.1605
D
STOCK AWARDS GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 2006 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN VEST IN THREE EQUAL ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS COMMENCING ON APRIL 12, 2011.
GINA MARIE BOOR FOR CYNTHIA T. PAZZAGLIA UNDER POWER OF ATTORNEY DATED 08/29/2002
2010-04-13