<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-07</periodOfReport><issuer><issuerCik>0000731939</issuerCik>        <issuerName>TEMPLE INLAND INC</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>TIN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001231549</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>MALEY JOHN PATRICK III</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Group VP, Paperboard</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-05-07</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5000</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>45.2</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>2003-05-07</value></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>45.2</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-07</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value><footnoteId id="F3" /></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Restricted shares acquired through an award under the Temple-Inland Inc. 2001 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">In accordance with the Shareholder Rights Plan adopted by the Company on February 9, 1999, Preferred Stock Purchase Rights are deemed to be attached to the shares of Common Stock.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The option vests in four (4) equal annual installments as follows:  5,000 on 05/07/2004; 5,000 on 05/07/2005; 5,000 on 5/07/2006; and 5,000 on 05/07/2007.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Signed by Leslie K. O'Neal on behalf of John Patrick Maley III</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

