<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906 CERT
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>dex99906cert.txt
<DESCRIPTION>ZWEIG TOTAL RETURN FUND CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
<TEXT>
<PAGE>

  Certification Pursuant to Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act and Section 906 of
                             the Sarbanes-Oxley Act

I, Daniel T. Geraci, President of The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (the
"Registrant"), certify that:

     1.   The Form N-CSR of the Registrant (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 Registrant.


Date: March 11, 2005                      /s/ Daniel T. Geraci
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Daniel T. Geraci, President
                                          (principal executive officer)

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

     1.   The Form N-CSR of the Registrant (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 Registrant.


Date: March 11, 2005                      /s/ Nancy Curtiss
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Nancy Curtiss, Treasurer
                                          (principal financial officer)
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
