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:	September 7, 2007	/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:	September 7, 2007	/s/ Nancy G. Curtiss
		Nancy G. Curtiss, Treasurer
		(principal financial officer)