<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.CT906
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>dex99ct906.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

I, Philip R. McLoughlin, Chairman of The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the
"Fund"), certify that:

     1.   The Form N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
          requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934, as amended; and

     2.   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Fund.

Date:   September 5, 2003                   /s/ PHILIP R. MCLOUGHLIN
     ----------------------                 ------------------------------------
                                            Philip R. McLoughlin, Chairman
                                            (principal executive officer)

I, Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer of The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the
"Fund"), certify that:

     1.   The Form N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
          requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
          of 1934, as amended; and

     2.   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
          material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
          of the Fund.

Date:   September 5, 2003                   /s/ NANCY G. CURTISS
     ----------------------                 ------------------------------------
                                            Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer
                                            (principal financial officer)

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
