UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 11-K




                          [X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO
                              SECTION 15(d) OF THE
                           SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
                                      1934

                   For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003

                                       OR

               [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

           For the transition period from ____________ to ____________


                         Commission File Number 1-14036


A. Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that
of the issuer named below:

             DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan

B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address
of its principal executive office:

                                DST Systems, Inc.
                              333 West 11th Street
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64105







                              REQUIRED INFORMATION


1. Report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

2. Audited Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of
   December 31, 2003 and 2002

3. Audited Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the
   Years Ended December 31, 2003 and 2002

4. Notes to Financial Statements

5. Schedule of Assets Held at End of Year

6. Signature Page

7. Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Exhibit 23.1)




DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Financial Statements and Additional Information
December 31, 2003 and 2002




DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Index to Financial Statements and Additional Information
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                         Page

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm                    1

Financial Statements:

     Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits                       2

     Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits            3

     Notes to Financial Statements                                        4-7

Additional information*


*  Other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the
Department of Labor Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under
ERISA have been omitted because they are not applicable.






             Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Participants and Advisory Committee of the
DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan

In our opinion, the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits
and the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits
present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits
of the DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan (the "Plan") at
December 31, 2003 and 2002, and the changes in net assets available for benefits
for the year ended December 31, 2003, in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements
are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We
conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about
whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit
includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.




/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Kansas City, Missouri
June 25, 2004





DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                                                                   December 31,
                                                                   --------------------------------------------
                                                                          2003                    2002
                                                                   --------------------    --------------------

                                                                                     
Cash and cash equivalents                                           $                      $          42,146
Investments:
     Mutual funds                                                                                 52,019,690
     DST Common Stock                                                                             13,614,409
     Loans to participants                                                                         3,058,714
                                                                   --------------------    --------------------
         Total investments                                                                        68,692,813

Net assets available for benefits                                   $                      $      68,734,959
                                                                   ====================    ====================




              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        2




DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                                          Year Ended December 31,
                                                               --------------------------------------------
                                                                       2003                     2002
                                                               -------------------      -------------------
                                                                                  
Investments income:
     Dividends, interest and other distributions               $       1,605,298        $       2,071,754
     Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of
         investments                                                   8,663,908              (11,932,084)
                                                               -------------------      -------------------
                                                                      10,269,206               (9,860,330)
                                                               -------------------      -------------------


Transfer to DST Systems, Inc. 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan
                                                                     (72,448,666)
Benefits paid to participants                                         (6,545,749)              (7,136,713)
Administrative expenses                                                   (9,750)                 (11,580)
                                                               -------------------      -------------------
                                                                     (79,004,165)              (7,148,293)
                                                               -------------------      -------------------


Net change in net assets available for benefits                      (68,734,959)             (17,008,623)


Net assets available for benefits:

     Beginning of year                                                68,734,959               85,743,582

                                                               -------------------      -------------------
     End of year                                               $                        $      68,734,959
                                                               ===================      ===================


              The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
                             financial statements.

                                        3






DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1.       Description of the Plan

The DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Plan (the "Plan") is a
contributory, defined contribution plan subject to the provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The following brief
description of the Plan is provided for general information purposes only.
Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for more complete information.

Effective December 31, 2003, the Plan was merged into the DST Systems, Inc.
401(k) Profit Sharing Plan (the "DST Plan"). Accordingly, the accompanying
reports do not include any financial information for net assets available for
plan benefits at December 31, 2003, due to the merger.

Sponsor
The Plan Sponsor is DST Systems of California, Inc. (formerly USCS
International, Inc.), a wholly-owned subsidiary of DST Systems, Inc. ("DST").
Certain of its subsidiaries and affiliates (the "Sponsor") participate in the
plan.  Subsequently, the Plan assets have been transferred to
DST Systems, Inc. ("DST").

Trustee
As of December 31, 2003, the trustee of the Plan was UMB Bank, n.a. (the
"Trustee"). Subsequently, the Plan assets have been transferred to Marshall &
Ilsley Trust Company N.A., the current trustee of the plan. The Trustee holds
and administers all assets of the Plan in accordance with the provisions of the
Plan agreement.

Administration of the Plan
An advisory committee (the "Advisory Committee"), which consists of members who
are selected by the Board of Directors of the Sponsor, has full power, authority
and responsibility to control and manage the operations and administration of
the Plan. All expenses of operating the Plan may be paid out of Plan assets,
except to the extent the Sponsor decides to pay these expenses. For the years
ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, the Sponsor paid Plan expenses of $86,063 and
$98,610, respectively.

Eligibility
All employees of the Sponsor who were employed prior to January 1, 2000, and who
were not members of a collective bargaining unit or nonresident aliens were
eligible to participate in the Plan on the Plan entry date. The Plan entry date
is the later of the first day of the month following the date the employee
commences service or the date the employee attains age 21. After December 31,
1999, no new participants were allowed into the Plan.

Contributions and Vesting
Effective January 1, 2001, all invested balances in the Plan were fully vested
and no further contributions are planned. Participant and Sponsor contributions
under the Plan after December 31, 1999, are made to the DST Plan and are subject
to its terms and conditions.

Participant accounts
Each participant's account was credited with the participant's contributions,
matching contributions, profit sharing contributions and rollover contributions.
Each participant's account is credited with an allocation of Plan earnings or
losses. Allocations of earnings or losses are based on account balances.
Discretionary contributions were allocated to participant accounts based on the
proportion which the

                                        4



participant's eligible compensation bore to the aggregate
eligible compensation of all participants for the year. The benefit to which a
participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the
participant's account.

Investment options
Participants may direct their contributions into DST Common Stock ($0.01 par
value) or any number of the investment options as selected by the Advisory
Committee. The investment options contain different degrees of risks.
Participants should refer to the respective fund prospectus for a more complete
description of the investment objectives of each fund. The Advisory Committee
reserves the right to change the available investment options from time to time.

Participants may change their investment options daily.

Plan participants
The following summarizes the number of participants by investment option
as of December 31, 2003

        American Century Value
        American Century Growth
        American Century Select
        American Century Ultra
        American Century International
        DST Systems, Inc. Common Stock
        Davis NY Venture
        Fidelity Advisor Growth
        Janus Investment
        Janus Investment Enterprise
        Janus Investment Mercury
        Janus Investment Overseas
        Lord Abbett Affiliated Class A
        Lord Abbett Bond Debenture
        Managers Fund Special Equity
        Money Market Obligs Prime Value
        PIMCO Total Return
        T. Rowe Price Mid-cap Growth
        Royce Total Return
        Standish Ayer & Wood Fixed Income
        Vanguard Bond Index
        Vanguard Index 500
        Vanguard Value


Distribution of benefits
Benefit distributions generally will be made in the event of retirement, death,
disability, resignation or dismissal. A participant's normal retirement age is
59 1/2.

Balances not exceeding $5,000 will be automatically distributed upon termination
as a cash lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following termination
of employment. Balances exceeding $5,000 (excluding rollover contributions and
related earnings or losses) will be distributed upon participant

                                         5



election as soon as administratively practicable but no later than April 1 of
the Plan year following the Plan year in which age 70 1/2 is attained. Such
distributions may be elected as a lump sum or paid in monthly, quarterly or
annual installments.  Distributions shall be made in cash or, at the option of
the Participant, in cash plus the number of whole shares of DST Common Stock
allocated to the Participant's account.

Unless the participant otherwise elects, distributions begin no later than the
60th day after the close of the Plan year in which a participant reaches normal
retirement age or celebrates their 10th anniversary as a Plan member (whichever
is later). Participants under the age of 62 with balances exceeding $5,000
(excluding rollover contributions and related earnings or losses) must consent
to any distribution.

Upon death, all sums credited to the participant's account will be paid to the
beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the participant.

Distributions may also be made in the event of financial hardship of the
participant. Certain restrictions apply.

Participant loans
Participants may borrow the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested accounts
(subject to certain Plan and Internal Revenue Service limitations). Generally,
loans must be repaid within five years. Loans bear a fixed rate of interest,
which is set at loan origination using the Prime rate as publicly announced by
the Trustee plus 1%.

Plan termination
The Sponsor believes the Plan will continue without interruption; however, it
reserves the right to terminate the Plan at any time subject to the provisions
of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants will become fully
vested in any unvested balances from Sponsor contributions and their respective
account balances will be distributed in accordance with the Plan.

2.       Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of accounting
The accompanying financial statements are presented on the accrual basis of
accounting.

Use of estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets,
liabilities and changes in net assets available for plan benefits. Actual
results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and cash equivalents
Short-term liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less are
considered cash equivalents. Due to the short-term nature of these investments,
carrying value approximates market value.

Investment valuation and security transactions
Investments are recorded at fair value. Investments in mutual funds and DST
Common Stock are valued at net asset value representing the value at which
shares of the fund may be purchased or redeemed.

                                         6




Unrealized gains and losses are recognized in the year in which they occur.
Loans are valued at the current amount due from participants.

Contributions
Contributions are recognized in the year to which they relate.

Accounting for obligations for benefit payments
The Plan does not record a liability relating to the obligations for benefit
payments. Amounts allocated to participants are recorded on the Form 5500 for
benefit claims that have been processed and approved for payment prior to
December 31, 2003, but not yet paid as of that date.

Income tax status of the Plan
The Internal Revenue Service has determined and informed the Sponsor by a letter
dated August 2002, that the Plan is designed in accordance with applicable
sections of the Internal Revenue Code (the "IRC"). The Plan has been amended
since receiving the determination letter. However, the Advisory Committee and
the Plan's tax counsel believe that the Plan is designed and is currently being
operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC. Therefore,
no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan's financial
statements.

3.       Plan Investments

The following investments represent 5% or more of net assets available for
benefits at year-end:



                                                                                 December 31,
                                                                  ------------------------------------------
                                                                         2003                    2002
                                                                  ------------------     -------------------
                                                                                    
Mutual funds:
  Money Market Obligs Prime Value                                  $                      $      3,634,296
  PIMCO Total Return                                                                             3,926,879
  Vanguard Bond Index                                                                           18,202,940
  Vanguard Index 500                                                                            10,611,323
DST Common Stock                                                                                13,614,409



During 2003 and 2002, the Plan's investments (including gains and losses on
investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year appreciated
(depreciated) in value as follows:



                                                                            Year Ended December 31,
                                                                  --------------------------------------------
                                                                         2003                    2002
                                                                  --------------------    --------------------
                                                                                    
Mutual funds                                                       $       6,567,632      $     (6,229,188)
DST Common Stock                                                           2,096,276            (5,702,896)
                                                                  --------------------    --------------------
                                                                   $       8,663,908      $    (11,932,084)
                                                                  ====================    ====================



                                       7




SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly
caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
hereunto duly authorized.

                                 DST Systems of California, Inc. 401(k)
                                 Retirement Plan

Date:  June 28, 2004             By: /s/ Kenneth V. Hager
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                 Kenneth V. Hager
                                 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
                                 DST Systems of California, Inc.,
                                 Plan Administrator