<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001252910-16-000006.txt : 20160219
<SEC-HEADER>0001252910-16-000006.hdr.sgml : 20160219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160219175739
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001252910-16-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20151130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160219

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245648
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 E COLORADO BLVD STE 720
		STREET 2:		C/O FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE INC
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(626) 795-7300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 E COLORADO BLVD STE 720
		STREET 2:		C/O FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE INC
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FLAHERTY & CRUMRINE/CLAYMORE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030623

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ETTINGER ROBERT M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252910

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21380
		FILM NUMBER:		161443053

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 E COLORADO BLVD STE 720
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-11-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001245648</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLAHERTY &amp; CRUMRINE TOTAL RETURN FUND INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FLC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252910</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ETTINGER ROBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>301 E COLORADO BLVD STE 720</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Affiliated Person of Adviser</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-11-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44893.668</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Due to his ownership of 16.6% of Flaherty &amp; Crumrine Incorporated, Mr. Ettinger also has an indirect interest in the 4,198 shares of common stock held by Flaherty &amp; Crumrine Incorporated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Due to his ownership of 16.6% of Flaherty &amp; Crumrine Incorporated, Mr. Ettinger also has an indirect interest in the 4,198 shares of common stock held by Flaherty &amp; Crumrine Incorporated.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Robert M. Ettinger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
