<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001144204-16-131099.txt : 20161102
<SEC-HEADER>0001144204-16-131099.hdr.sgml : 20161102
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161102153146
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001144204-16-131099
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161102
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161102

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000033934
		IRS NUMBER:				132727013
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AST FUND SOLUTIONS
		STREET 2:		48 WALL STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10005
		BUSINESS PHONE:		866-668-6558

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AST FUND SOLUTIONS
		STREET 2:		48 WALL STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10005

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EIS FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20020109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXCELSIOR INCOME SHARES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WILCOX GLENN W SR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001221668

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-02363
		FILM NUMBER:		161967659

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE WEST PACK SQUARE SUITE 1700
		CITY:			ASHEVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28801
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>v452026_4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>OWNERSHIP DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-11-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000033934</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001221668</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WILCOX GLENN W SR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>418 VANDERBILT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ASHEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28803</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>502</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2006</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Non-transferable rights were issued to stockholders of record as of September 23, 2016 in connection with a rights offering by the Issuer at the rate of one right for each share of common stock owned. Each right entitled its holder to purchase one share of common stock, which purchase is reflected in this filing.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Glenn W. Wilcox</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-11-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
