-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HcEjO94cSjMZhH4WUWxfuQF0XdpBfi8uJ7pHBMraczjm8JsDSJS2AMz4qvvZLin7
 oBeleRA/BQd8OUv/IGas2A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001032220-08-000033.txt : 20080403
<SEC-HEADER>0001032220-08-000033.hdr.sgml : 20080403
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080403174141
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001032220-08-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080403
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080403

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MAXIMUS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001032220
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MANAGEMENT CONSULTING SERVICES [8742]
		IRS NUMBER:				541000588
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ATTN: TREASURY DEPT.
		STREET 2:		11419 SUNSET HILLS ROAD
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20190
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7032518500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ATTN: TREASURY DEPT.
		STREET 2:		11419 SUNSET HILLS ROAD
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20190

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Cramer Andrew W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001341171

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12997
		FILM NUMBER:		08738572

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		703-251-8500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MAXIMUS, INC., ATTN: TREASURY DEPT.
		STREET 2:		11419 SUNSET HILLS ROAD
		CITY:			RESTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20190
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001032220</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAXIMUS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MMS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001341171</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Cramer Andrew W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MAXIMUS, INC., ATTN: TREASURY DEPT.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11419 SUNSET HILLS ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RESTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20190</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and General Manager</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>36.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6129</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6129</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6129</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each RSU represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted Stock Units vest based upon the following schedule, subject to deferred vesting for a longer period at the election of the individual, as permitted by the terms of the award:

Shares     Vest Date
1022       3/31/2009
1022       3/31/2010
1022       3/31/2011
1021       3/31/2012
1021       3/31/2013
1021       3/31/2014

Expiration date not applicable to RSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reporting person also holds restricted stock units with respect to an additional 8,662 shares of common stock with varying vesting schedules.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David R. Francis: As Attorney-In-Fact for: Andrew Cramer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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