<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906 CERT
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>dex99906cert.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO RULE 30A-2(B) UNDER THE 1940 ACT AND SECTION 906
<TEXT>
<PAGE>


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

I, George R. Aylward, President 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: 03/09/09                          /s/ George R. Aylward
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        George R. Aylward, President
                                        (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: 03/09/09                          /s/ Nancy G. Curtiss
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer
                                        (principal financial officer)
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
