<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-01</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001051771</issuerCik><issuerName>BELK INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>N/A</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001246421</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MARLEY BRIAN T</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>2801 WEST TYVOLA ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>28217-4500</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP, Finance</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9079</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18801</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><remarks>9,079 shares of Belk, Inc. Class B common stock were awarded to Reporting Person as part of the Belk, Inc. Key Executive Stock Grant Program, and the Board of Directors of Belk, Inc. did not attach a value to such shares at the time of the award.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Brian T. Marley by Betty F. Buchanan, P.A.</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

