<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/96
000 C000000 0000827119
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT
001 B000000 811-5448
001 C000000 6179545000
002 A000000 ONE SUN LIFE EXECUTIVE PARK
002 B000000 WELLESLEY HILLS
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02181
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-17352
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02116
011 A000001 CLARENDON INSURANCE AGENCY
011 B000001 8-21590
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02116
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
013 B030001 02110
014 A000001 SUN INVESTMENT SERVICES COMPANY
014 B000001 8-16198
015 A000001 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
<PAGE> PAGE 2
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02110
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 NEW YORK
015 C020002 NY
015 C030002 10081
015 E040002 X
015 A000003 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000003 S
015 C010003 NEW YORK
015 C020003 NY
015 C030003 10286
015 E010003 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 7
019 C000000 COMPASSFDS
020 A000001 HD VEST
020 B000001 75-1869963
020 C000001 25
020 A000002 MERRILL LYNCH
020 B000002 13-5674085
020 C000002 21
020 A000003 DONALDSON, LUFKINE
020 B000003 13-2741729
020 C000003 9
020 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY
020 B000004 13-2655998
020 C000004 8
020 A000005 GOLDMAN SACHS
020 B000005 13-5108880
020 C000005 8
020 A000006 BEAR, STEARNS SECURITIES
020 B000006 13-3299429
020 C000006 8
020 A000007 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
020 B000007 22-2347336
020 C000007 8
020 A000008 SMITH BARNEY INC.
020 B000008 13-1912900
020 C000008 7
020 A000009 SALOMON BROTHERS
020 B000009 13-3082694
020 C000009 6
020 A000010 CJ LAWRENCE
020 B000010 00-0000000
020 C000010 6
021 000000 236
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 A000001 GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
022 B000001 06-1109503
022 C000001 435628
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 CS FIRST BOSTON CORP.
022 B000002 13-5659485
022 C000002 142262
022 D000002 24159
022 A000003 FORD MOTOR CREDIT
022 B000003 38-1612444
022 C000003 134785
022 D000003 0
022 A000004 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES
022 B000004 22-2347336
022 C000004 117565
022 D000004 7528
022 A000005 SHEARSON LEHMAN BROS
022 B000005 00-0000000
022 C000005 113871
022 D000005 2063
022 A000006 CARROLL MCENTEE
022 B000006 13-2650270
022 C000006 88112
022 D000006 499
022 A000007 GOLDMAN SACHS
022 B000007 13-5108880
022 C000007 69721
022 D000007 18313
022 A000008 FIRST CHICAGO
022 B000008 36-3595942
022 C000008 83016
022 D000008 185
022 A000009 MORGAN J.P.
022 B000009 13-3224016
022 C000009 46396
022 D000009 6633
022 A000010 UBS SECURITIES
022 B000010 13-2932996
022 C000010 26641
022 D000010 25885
023 C000000 1701261
023 D000000 243345
024 000000 Y
025 A000001 FORD MOTOR CREDIT
025 B000001 38-1612444
025 C000001 D
025 D000001 7998
025 A000002 GENERAL ELECTRIC
025 B000002 06-1109503
025 C000002 D
025 D000002 4184
<PAGE> PAGE 4
025 A000003 GENERAL ELECTRIC
025 B000003 06-1109503
025 C000003 E
025 D000003 3322
025 A000004 LEHMAN BROTHERS
025 B000004 13-2518466
025 C000004 D
025 D000004 1566
025 A000005 MERRILL LYNCH
025 B000005 13-5674085
025 C000005 D
025 D000005 366
025 A000006 DELETE
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 1364
028 A020000 0
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 11219
028 B010000 1641
028 B020000 0
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 3413
028 C010000 1812
028 C020000 0
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 2408
028 D010000 2113
028 D020000 0
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 4404
028 E010000 2658
028 E020000 0
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 4326
028 F010000 974
028 F020000 0
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 3431
028 G010000 10562
<PAGE> PAGE 5
028 G020000 0
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 29201
028 H000000 0
029 000000 N
030 A000000 0
030 B000000 0.00
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 0
031 B000000 0
032 000000 0
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 261
036 A000000 N
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 Y
040 000000 N
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 0
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 300000
048 A020000 0.750
048 B010000 0
048 B020000 0.000
048 C010000 0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000 0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000 0
048 E020000 0.000
048 F010000 0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000 0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 300000
048 K020000 0.675
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 Y
053 B000000 N
053 C000000 Y
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 N
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 N
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 N
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 N
055 A000000 Y
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 Y
058 B000000 Y
058 C000000 N
058 D000000 N
058 E000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 300
062 A000000 N
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 7
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 0.0
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 0.0
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 B000000 N
066 C000000 N
066 D000000 N
066 E000000 N
066 F000000 N
066 G000000 Y
067 000000 Y
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 N
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 Y
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 Y
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 344415
071 B000000 346211
071 C000000 246462
071 D000000 140
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 8237
072 C000000 4783
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 -67
072 F000000 2059
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 0
072 J000000 118
072 K000000 0
072 L000000 13
072 M000000 10
072 N000000 0
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 35
072 S000000 1
072 T000000 205
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 3409
072 X000000 5850
072 Y000000 7
072 Z000000 7110
072AA000000 27960
072BB000000 0
072CC010000 0
072CC020000 2944
072DD010000 0
072DD020000 0
072EE000000 0
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 0.0000
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 16
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 18181
074 D000000 100950
074 E000000 952
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 F000000 163593
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 14
074 K000000 265
074 L000000 2033
074 M000000 13
074 N000000 286017
074 O000000 532
074 P000000 18
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 219
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 285248
074 U010000 4414
074 U020000 5177
074 V010000 25.04
074 V020000 24.71
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 21423
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 274490
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A000000 NATIONAL UNION INSURANCE CO.
080 B000000 FEDERAL INS.
080 C000000 75000
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 116
082 A000000 Y
082 B000000 100
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 10
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE JAMES O. YOST
TITLE ASSISTANT TREASURER
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000827119
<NAME> SUN LIFE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 01
<NAME> TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT II
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 243673
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 283676
<RECEIVABLES> 2312
<ASSETS-OTHER> 13
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 16
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 286017
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 532
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 237
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 769
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 245245
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4414
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 4801
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 40003
<NET-ASSETS> 285248
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4783
<INTEREST-INCOME> 8237
<OTHER-INCOME> (67)
<EXPENSES-NET> (5843)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7110
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 27960
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (2944)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 32126
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 602
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (989)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 19408
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2059
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5850
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 274490
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 22.26
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.63
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.15
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 25.04
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.82
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000827119
<NAME> SUN LIFE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 02
<NAME> TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT III
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 243673
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 283676
<RECEIVABLES> 2312
<ASSETS-OTHER> 13
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 16
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 286017
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 532
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 237
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 769
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 245245
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5177
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6322
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 40003
<NET-ASSETS> 285248
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4783
<INTEREST-INCOME> 8237
<OTHER-INCOME> (67)
<EXPENSES-NET> (5843)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7110
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 27960
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (2944)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 32126
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1385
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (2528)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 19408
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2059
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5850
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 274490
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 22.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.57
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 2.14
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 24.71
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.82
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000827119
<NAME> SUN LIFE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 03
<NAME> TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT III2
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 243673
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 283676
<RECEIVABLES> 2312
<ASSETS-OTHER> 13
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 16
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 286017
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 532
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 237
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 769
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 245245
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5177
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 6322
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 40003
<NET-ASSETS> 285248
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 4783
<INTEREST-INCOME> 8237
<OTHER-INCOME> (67)
<EXPENSES-NET> (5843)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7110
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 27960
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (2944)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 32126
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2958
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (878)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 54544
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2059
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5850
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 274490
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.49
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.30
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 1.02
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 11.81
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.82
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.00
</TABLE>
