-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 QVeAutyJvSm/e70SACO4VNGxZSh8XhdQF4iUkfNrWceOf7c84huH9cpbc+wfA39o
 +4tWMk9P6OpTpuV79OkYhw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-09-011536.txt : 20090514
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-09-011536.hdr.sgml : 20090514
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090514163116
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-09-011536
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090512
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090514
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090514

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VANDEUSEN LOIS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215180

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31369
		FILM NUMBER:		09827103

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CIT GROUP INC
		STREET 2:		1 CIT DRIVE # 3261-9
		CITY:			LIVINGSTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07039

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CIT GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001171825
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FINANCE LESSORS [6172]
		IRS NUMBER:				651051192
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 CIT DRIVE
		CITY:			LIVINGSTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07039
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9737405000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 CIT DRIVE
		CITY:			LIVINGSTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07039

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CIT GROUP INC DEL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020422
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-12</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001171825</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIT GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CIT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215180</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VANDEUSEN LOIS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CIT GROUP INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 CIT DRIVE, #3251-9</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LIVINGSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07039</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14107</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.19</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37767.3211</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.19</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>51887</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>51887</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>51887</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.19</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14151</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-05-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-05-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14151</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14151</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options vest and become exercisable in three equal installments on each of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares vest in three equal installments on each of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd anniversaries of the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Filer elected to receive options in lieu of cash compensation.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James P. Shanahan, attorney-in-fact for Ms. Van Deusen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----