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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 T+BnXkumC4PWagvLEVTWwV+msDTCkVa52BJK50aJBYjwt5D1CjDx7XlQGldJ7h/a
 9HRRXedfHgwnpLiAZc7Rcw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001312548-09-000008.txt : 20090311
<SEC-HEADER>0001312548-09-000008.hdr.sgml : 20090311
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090311172202
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001312548-09-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090310
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090311
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090311

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TIER TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001045150
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER INTEGRATED SYSTEMS DESIGN [7373]
		IRS NUMBER:				943145844
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0118

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10780 PARKRIDGE BLVD
		STREET 2:		4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20191
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5713821090

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10780 PARKRIDGE BLVD
		STREET 2:		4TH FLOOR
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20191

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DISCOVERY EQUITY PARTNERS, LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001258542
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33475
		FILM NUMBER:		09673350

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC
		STREET 2:		191 N. WACKER DRIVE SUITE 1685
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		312-265-9600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC
		STREET 2:		191 N. WACKER DRIVE SUITE 1685
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DISCOVERY EQUITY PARTNERS LP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030806
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-03-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001045150</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TIER TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TIEr</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001258542</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DISCOVERY EQUITY PARTNERS, LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DISCOVERY GROUP I, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>191 N. WACKER DRIVE SUITE 1685</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>88935</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2083070</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>26597</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.6834</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2109667</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction was executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $5.55 -  to $5.86.  The price reported above reflects the weighted average purchase price.  The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC staff, the issuer or a security holder of the issuer full information regarding the number of shares and prices at which the transaction was effected.&quot;</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael R. Murphy, Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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