<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-02</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0000731939</issuerCik>        <issuerName>TEMPLE INLAND INC</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>TIN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001185932</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>TEMPLE LARRY E</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Shares</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>44.23</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-02</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-05-02</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>422</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>44.23</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2008-05-09</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2023-05-09</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>422</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8445</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Phantom shares accrued under the fee deferral plan, which includes a dividend reinvestment feature, to be settled upon the reporting person's retirement.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Leslie K. O'Neal signed on behalf of Larry E. Temple</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

