NEW YORK, NY--(MARKET WIRE)--Jan 7, 2009 -- The Board of Directors of The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. (NYSE:ZTR - News) declared a distribution of $0.033 per share to shareholders of record on December 31, 2008, payable January 12, 2009. The Fund has a Managed Distribution Plan to pay 10 percent of the Fund's net asset value ("NAV") on an annualized basis. The Board believes that regular, fixed cash payouts will enhance shareholder value and serve the long-term interests of shareholders.

The following is a required Section 19A notice:

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's Managed Distribution Plan.

This notice discloses information on the sources of the distribution as required by SEC Rule 19(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the Fund's SEC Exemptive Order under Section 19(b) as follows:

 
Distribution Estimates        January 2009 (MTD)     Year-to-date (YTD) (1)
(Sources)                Per Share   Percentage    Per Share   Percentage
                           Amount    of Current      Amount    of Current
                                    Distribution              Distribution
Net Investment Income    $   0.007          20.7%  $   0.100          22.3%
Net Realized Short-Term
 Capital Gains                   -           0.0%      0.043           9.4%
Net Realized Long-Term
 Capital Gains                   -           0.0%      0.003           0.7%
Return of Capital (or
 other Capital Source)       0.026          79.3%      0.304          67.6%
Total Distribution       $   0.033         100.0%  $   0.450         100.0%

(1) YTD February 1, 2008 to January 6, 2009. (The distribution paid on
    January 10, 2008 was reportable for tax on Form 1099 in 2007)

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

Information regarding the Fund's performance and distribution rates is set forth below. Please note that all performance figures are based on the Fund's NAV and not the market price of the Fund's shares. Performance figures are not meant to represent individual shareholder performance.

 
Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5-year
 period ended December 31, 2008 (2)                                 2.90%
Current Fiscal YTD Annualized Distribution Rate (3)                11.45%

YTD Cumulative Total Return on NAV (4)                            -10.09%
YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate (5)                               11.45%

(2)  Average Annual Total Return on NAV is the annual compound return for
     the five year period.  It reflects the change in the Fund's NAV and
     reinvestment of all distributions.
(3)  Current Fiscal YTD Annualized Distribution Rate is the Cumulative
     Distribution Rate annualized as a percentage of the Fund's NAV as of
     December 31, 2008.
(4)  YTD Cumulative Total Return on NAV is the percentage change in the
     Fund's NAV from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008, including
     distributions paid and assuming reinvestment of those distributions.
(5)  YTD Cumulative Distribution Rate is the dollar value of distributions
     from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 as a percentage of the
     Fund's NAV as of December 31, 2008.

The Zweig Total Return Fund, Inc. is a closed-end fund with an investment objective to seek the highest total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income, consistent with the preservation of capital. The Zweig closed-end funds are advised by Zweig Advisers LLC. For more information on the Fund, please contact Shareholder Services at 800.272.2700 or visit us on the web at www.virtus.com.

ZTR Cusip: 989837109

     For Further Information:
     Zweig Funds Shareholder Services
     (800) 272-2700
     Patricia Baronowski
     The Altman Group
     (212) 400-2604