<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906CERT
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>dex99906cert.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES OXLEY
<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 and Chief Executive Officer of The Zweig Total
Return Fund, Inc. (the "Registrant"), certify that:

    1. The Form N-CSR of the Registrant containing the financial statements
       (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 9, 2006                       /s/ Daniel T. Geraci
                                          -----------------------------
                                          Daniel T. Geraci, President
                                          and Chief Executive Officer
                                          (principal executive officer)

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

    1. The Form N-CSR of the Registrant containing the financial statements
       (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 9, 2006                       /s/ Nancy G. Curtiss
                                          -----------------------------
                                          Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer
                                          (principal financial officer)
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
