-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 ZaiD9CupNWjGGwr2wPWh6w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001312548-09-000017.txt : 20090414
<SEC-HEADER>0001312548-09-000017.hdr.sgml : 20090414
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090414172839
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001312548-09-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090413
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090414
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090414

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Murphy Michael R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001323510

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-33475
		FILM NUMBER:		09749428

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

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
</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>2009-04-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323510</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Murphy Michael R</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-03-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-03-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Payment will be the cash equivalent of the Fair Market Value of Tier common stock on the date of vesting multiplied by the number of restricted stock units vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Three-year cliff vesting</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael R. Murphy</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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