<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001252913-16-000002.txt : 20160318
<SEC-HEADER>0001252913-16-000002.hdr.sgml : 20160318
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160318133326
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001252913-16-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160318
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160318

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:			WULF ROBERT F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252913

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-21380
		FILM NUMBER:		161515601

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 E. COLORADO BLVD.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 720
		CITY:			PASADENA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252913</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WULF ROBERT F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>301 E. COLORADO BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 720</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PASADENA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2371</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.3739</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7281</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Robert F. Wulf - Pursuant to Limited Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
