content: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
  
                                      Form 8-K
  
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
  
                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
  
  
                                  January 20, 2004
                                  ----------------
                                   Date of Report
                          (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
  
  
  
                             Total System Services, Inc.
                            (Exact Name of Registrant as
                              Specified in its Charter)
  
  
     Georgia                          1-10254                        58-1493818
  --------------                 ------------------                --------------
  (State of                      (Commission File                 (IRS Employer
    Incorporation)                Number)                          Identification
                                                                   Number)
  
  
  
                     1600 First Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31901
                     ------------------------------------------
                 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
  
  
                                   (706) 649-2267
                                   --------------
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
  
                  ------------------------------------------------
            (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
  
  
  
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  -------  ------------
  
           On January 20, 2004, Total System Services, Inc. ("Registrant") issued
  a press release with respect to its earnings for the year ended December 31,
  2003.
  
           A copy of Registrant's press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1
  and incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  ------   ---------------------------------
  
           (c)  Exhibits
  
                99.1 - Registrant's press release dated January 20,
                       2004 (filed for purposes of Items 5 and 12).
  
                99.2 - Supplemental Information prepared for use with
                       the press release (furnished for purposes of Items 9
                       and 12).
  
  Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.
  -------  ------------------------
  
  Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
  -------  ---------------------------------------------
  
           The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 9, "Regulation
  FD Disclosure" and Item 12, "Results of Operations and Financial Condition."
  
           On January 20, 2004, the Registrant issued a press release and will
  hold an investor call and webcast to disclose financial results for the year
  ended December 31, 2003. The Supplemental Information for use at this investor
  call is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated into Item 9 and Item
  12 by reference.
  
           On January 20, 2004, Registrant issued a press release with respect to
  its earnings for the year ended December 31, 2003. A copy of Registrant's press
  release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
  
  
                                         2
  
  <PAGE>
  
  
                                      Signature
                                      ---------
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
  amended, Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                                   TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, INC.
                                                        ("Registrant")
  
  
  Dated:  January 20, 2004                     By: /s/Kathleen Moates
          ---------------------------              ----------------------------
                                                   Kathleen Moates
                                                   Senior Deputy General Counsel
metadata_documents: [{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "filing8k.txt", "description": "TSYS JANUARY 20, 2004 8-K FILING", "secsgml_size_bytes": 4021}]
metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES INC", "cik": "0000721683", "assigned-sic": "7389", "irs-number": "581493818", "state-of-incorporation": "GA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-10254", "film-number": "04532735"}, "business-address": {"street1": "1600 FIRST AVENUE", "street2": "P O BOX 1755", "city": "COLUMBUS", "state": "GA", "zip": "31901", "phone": "7066492267"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "1600 FIRST AVENUE", "city": "COLUMBUS", "state": "GA", "zip": "31901"}}
text: SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                               Washington, D.C. 20549
  
                                      Form 8-K
  
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
                         Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                         the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
                                  January 20, 2004
                                  ----------------
                                   Date of Report
                          (Date of Earliest Event Reported)
  
                             Total System Services, Inc.
                            (Exact Name of Registrant as
                              Specified in its Charter)
  
     Georgia                          1-10254                        58-1493818
  --------------                 ------------------                --------------
  (State of                      (Commission File                 (IRS Employer
    Incorporation)                Number)                          Identification
                                                                   Number)
  
                     1600 First Avenue, Columbus, Georgia 31901
                     ------------------------------------------
                 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
  
                                   (706) 649-2267
                                   --------------
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
  
                  ------------------------------------------------
            (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Item 5.  Other Events.
  -------  ------------
  
           On January 20, 2004, Total System Services, Inc. ("Registrant") issued
  a press release with respect to its earnings for the year ended December 31,
  2003.
  
           A copy of Registrant's press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1
  and incorporated herein by reference.
  
  Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.
  ------   ---------------------------------
  
           (c)  Exhibits
  
                99.1 - Registrant's press release dated January 20,
                       2004 (filed for purposes of Items 5 and 12).
  
                99.2 - Supplemental Information prepared for use with
                       the press release (furnished for purposes of Items 9
                       and 12).
  
  Item 9.  Regulation FD Disclosure.
  -------  ------------------------
  
  Item 12. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
  -------  ---------------------------------------------
  
           The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 9, "Regulation
  FD Disclosure" and Item 12, "Results of Operations and Financial Condition."
  
           On January 20, 2004, the Registrant issued a press release and will
  hold an investor call and webcast to disclose financial results for the year
  ended December 31, 2003. The Supplemental Information for use at this investor
  call is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated into Item 9 and Item
  12 by reference.
  
           On January 20, 2004, Registrant issued a press release with respect to
  its earnings for the year ended December 31, 2003. A copy of Registrant's press
  release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
  
                                         2
  Signature
                                      ---------
  
           Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
  amended, Registrant has caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
  
                                                   TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES, INC.
                                                        ("Registrant")
  
  Dated:  January 20, 2004                     By: /s/Kathleen Moates
          ---------------------------              ----------------------------
                                                   Kathleen Moates
                                                   Senior Deputy General Counsel