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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-06-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001297470</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JONES MICKEY L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3063 ROUTE 184 HIGHWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TROUT RUN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17771</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON CLASS</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-06-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>62.4174</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>53.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6387.1555</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON CLASS</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-06-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>53.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>771</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>BY SPOUSE</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>1% STOCK DIVIDEND BASED ON THE DECLARATION DATE MARKET PRICE OF $53.75.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GINA MARIE BOOR FOR MICKEY L JONES UNDER POWER OF ATTORNEY DATED 07/12/2004</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-06-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-06-27
0
0000739421
CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
CZFS
0001297470
JONES MICKEY L
3063 ROUTE 184 HIGHWAY
TROUT RUN
PA
17771
0
1
0
0
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
COMMON CLASS
2014-06-27
4
J
0
62.4174
53.75
A
6387.1555
D
COMMON CLASS
2014-06-27
4
J
0
7
53.75
A
771
I
BY SPOUSE
1% STOCK DIVIDEND BASED ON THE DECLARATION DATE MARKET PRICE OF $53.75.
GINA MARIE BOOR FOR MICKEY L JONES UNDER POWER OF ATTORNEY DATED 07/12/2004
2014-06-27