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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-05-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001555022</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARR JEFFREY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10688 ROUTE 706</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STEVENSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>18845</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON CLASS</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-05-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>172</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1573.5656</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <remarks>STOCK AWARDS GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN VEST IN THREE EQUAL ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS COMMENCING ON MAY 9, 2017.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>GINA MARIE BOOR FOR JEFFREY B. CARR UNDER POWER OF ATTORNEY DATED 07/20/2012</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2016-05-09
0
0000739421
CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES INC
CZFS
0001555022
CARR JEFFREY B
10688 ROUTE 706
STEVENSVILLE
PA
18845
0
1
0
0
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
COMMON CLASS
2016-05-09
4
A
0
172
0
A
1573.5656
D
STOCK AWARDS GRANTED PURSUANT TO THE CITIZENS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC. 2016 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN VEST IN THREE EQUAL ANNUAL INSTALLMENTS COMMENCING ON MAY 9, 2017.
GINA MARIE BOOR FOR JEFFREY B. CARR UNDER POWER OF ATTORNEY DATED 07/20/2012
2016-05-09