<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 03/31/96
000 C000000 0000912763
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 FEDERATED TOTAL RETURN SERIES, INC.
001 B000000 811-7115
001 C000000 4122881581
002 A000000 FEDERATED INVESTORS TOWER
002 B000000 PITTSBURGH
002 C000000 PA
002 D010000 15222
002 D020000 3779
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 2
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 FEDERATED GOVERNMENT TOTAL RETURN FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C020400 FEDERATED SHORT-TERM TOTAL RETURN
007 C030400 N
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 FEDERATED MANAGEMENT
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-34610
008 D01AA01 PITTSBURGH
008 D02AA01 PA
008 D03AA01 15222
008 D04AA01 3779
010 A00AA01 FEDERATED SERVICES COMPANY
010 C01AA01 PITTSBURGH
010 C02AA01 PA
010 C03AA01 15222
010 C04AA01 3779
011 A00AA01 FEDERATED SECURITIES CORP
011 B00AA01 8-15561
<PAGE> PAGE 2
011 C01AA01 PITTSBURGH
011 C02AA01 PA
011 C03AA01 15222
011 C04AA01 3779
012 A00AA01 FEDERATED SHAREHOLDER SERVICES COMPANY
012 B00AA01 84-1869
012 C01AA01 BOSTON
012 C02AA01 MA
012 C03AA01 02266
012 C04AA01 8600
013 A00AA01 ERNST & YOUNG LLP
013 B01AA01 PITTSBURGH
013 B02AA01 PA
013 B03AA01 15219
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 N
019 B00AA00 0
020 C000001 0
020 C000002 0
020 C000003 0
020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 0
022 A000001 MORGAN GUARANTY TRUST CO. OF NEW YORK
022 B000001 13-5123346
022 C000001 36015
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 B.T. SECURITIES CORP.
022 B000002 13-4941247
022 C000002 10574
022 D000002 0
022 A000003 PAINEWEBBER, INC.
022 B000003 13-2638166
022 C000003 6267
022 D000003 3082
022 A000004 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
022 B000004 13-2633612
022 C000004 2998
022 D000004 0
022 A000005 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
022 B000005 13-2518466
022 C000005 2878
022 D000005 51
022 A000006 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
022 B000006 13-5674085
022 C000006 1076
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 D000006 506
022 A000007 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
022 B000007 13-2655998
022 C000007 0
022 D000007 1512
022 A000008 GOV'T INCOME SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000008 25-1414481
022 C000008 1244
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 CHEMICAL SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000009 13-4994650
022 C000009 0
022 D000009 755
022 A000010 BARCLAYS BANK PLC
022 B000010 13-4942190
022 C000010 0
022 D000010 553
023 C000000 63073
023 D000000 6915
024 00AA00 N
025 D00AA01 0
025 D00AA02 0
025 D00AA03 0
025 D00AA04 0
025 D00AA05 0
025 D00AA06 0
025 D00AA07 0
025 D00AA08 0
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 N
026 E000000 Y
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 Y
027 000000 Y
028 A01AA00 5000
028 A02AA00 0
028 A03AA00 0
028 A04AA00 0
028 B01AA00 0
028 B02AA00 0
028 B03AA00 0
028 B04AA00 0
028 C01AA00 0
028 C02AA00 0
028 C03AA00 0
028 C04AA00 0
028 D01AA00 0
<PAGE> PAGE 4
028 D02AA00 0
028 D03AA00 0
028 D04AA00 0
028 E01AA00 0
028 E02AA00 0
028 E03AA00 0
028 E04AA00 0
028 F01AA00 0
028 F02AA00 0
028 F03AA00 0
028 F04AA00 0
028 G01AA00 5000
028 G02AA00 0
028 G03AA00 0
028 G04AA00 0
028 H00AA00 0
029 00AA00 N
030 A00AA00 0
030 B00AA00 0.00
030 C00AA00 0.00
031 A00AA00 0
031 B00AA00 0
032 00AA00 0
033 00AA00 0
034 00AA00 N
035 00AA00 0
036 B00AA00 0
037 00AA00 N
038 00AA00 0
039 00AA00 N
040 00AA00 N
042 A00AA00 0
042 B00AA00 0
042 C00AA00 0
042 D00AA00 0
042 E00AA00 0
042 F00AA00 0
042 G00AA00 0
042 H00AA00 0
043 00AA00 0
044 00AA00 0
045 00AA00 Y
046 00AA00 N
047 00AA00 Y
048 00AA00 0.400
048 A01AA00 0
048 A02AA00 0.000
048 B01AA00 0
048 B02AA00 0.000
048 C01AA00 0
048 C02AA00 0.000
<PAGE> PAGE 5
048 D01AA00 0
048 D02AA00 0.000
048 E01AA00 0
048 E02AA00 0.000
048 F01AA00 0
048 F02AA00 0.000
048 G01AA00 0
048 G02AA00 0.000
048 H01AA00 0
048 H02AA00 0.000
048 I01AA00 0
048 I02AA00 0.000
048 J01AA00 0
048 J02AA00 0.000
048 K01AA00 0
048 K02AA00 0.000
049 00AA00 N
050 00AA00 N
051 00AA00 N
052 00AA00 N
053 A00AA00 Y
053 B00AA00 Y
053 C00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 N
054 B00AA00 N
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 N
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 N
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 N
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
055 A00AA00 N
055 B00AA00 N
056 00AA00 N
057 00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 100000
066 A00AA00 N
067 00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
069 00AA00 N
077 A000000 N
078 000000 N
015 A000101 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000101 C
015 C010101 BOSTON
015 C020101 MA
015 C030101 02266
015 C040101 8600
015 E010101 X
015 A000102 PNC BANK, NA
015 B000102 S
015 C010102 PITTSBURGH
015 C020102 PA
015 C030102 15265
015 E010102 X
015 A000103 NATIONSBANK OF NORTH CAROLINA
015 B000103 S
015 C010103 CHARLOTTE
015 C020103 NC
015 C030103 28255
015 E010103 X
015 A000104 NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
015 B000104 S
015 C010104 RICHMOND
015 C020104 VA
015 C030104 23261
015 E010104 X
015 A000105 MORGAN GUARANTY BANK & TRUST CO.
015 B000105 S
015 C010105 NEW YORK
015 C020105 NY
015 C030105 10015
015 E010105 X
015 A000106 CHEMICAL BANK & TRUST CO.
015 B000106 S
015 C010106 NEW YORK
015 C020106 NY
015 C030106 10006
015 E010106 X
015 A000107 BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000107 S
015 C010107 NEW YORK
015 C020107 NY
015 C030107 10006
015 E010107 X
015 A000108 BANKERS TRUST CO.
015 B000108 S
015 C010108 NEW YORK
015 C020108 NY
015 C030108 10015
<PAGE> PAGE 7
015 E010108 X
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 2.5
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 45.0
062 N000100 27.3
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 24.8
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 4
063 B000100 0.0
064 A000100 N
064 B000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 Y
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 N
070 L020100 N
070 M010100 Y
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 Y
070 P010100 N
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
071 A000100 8471
071 B000100 3506
071 C000100 5065
071 D000100 69
072 A000100 6
072 B000100 169
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 10
072 G000100 63
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 8
072 J000100 10
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 6
072 M000100 4
072 N000100 12
072 O000100 0
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 23
072 R000100 0
072 S000100 4
072 T000100 0
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 8
072 X000100 148
072 Y000100 148
072 Z000100 169
072AA000100 75
072BB000100 1
072CC010100 0
072CC020100 117
072DD010100 169
072DD020100 0
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.3400
073 A020100 0.0000
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 2
074 B000100 125
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 4910
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 0
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 52
074 M000100 0
074 N000100 5089
074 O000100 0
074 P000100 0
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 32
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 5057
074 U010100 510
074 U020100 0
074 V010100 9.91
074 V020100 0.00
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 6
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 4444
076 000100 0.00
015 A000401 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000401 C
015 C010401 BOSTON
015 C020401 MA
015 C030401 02266
015 C040401 8600
015 E010401 X
015 A000402 BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000402 S
015 C010402 NEW YORK
015 C020402 NY
015 C030402 10006
015 E010402 X
015 A000403 BANKERS TRUST CO.
015 B000403 S
015 C010403 NEW YORK
015 C020403 NY
015 C030403 10015
015 E010403 X
015 A000404 CHEMICAL BANK & TRUST CO.
015 B000404 S
015 C010404 NEW YORK
<PAGE> PAGE 10
015 C020404 NY
015 C030404 10006
015 E010404 X
015 A000405 PNC BANK, NA
015 B000405 S
015 C010405 PITTSBURGH
015 C020405 PA
015 C030405 15265
015 E010405 X
015 A000406 NATIONSBANK OF NORTH CAROLINA
015 B000406 S
015 C010406 CHARLOTTE
015 C020406 NC
015 C030406 28255
015 E010406 X
015 A000407 NATIONSBANC CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
015 B000407 S
015 C010407 RICHMOND
015 C020407 VA
015 C030407 23261
015 E010407 X
015 A000408 MORGAN GUARANTY BANK & TRUST CO.
015 B000408 S
015 C010408 NEW YORK
015 C020408 NY
015 C030408 10015
015 E010408 X
062 A000400 Y
062 B000400 0.0
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 3.7
062 E000400 0.0
062 F000400 0.0
062 G000400 0.0
062 H000400 0.0
062 I000400 0.0
062 J000400 0.0
062 K000400 0.0
062 L000400 0.0
062 M000400 38.7
062 N000400 28.9
062 O000400 0.0
062 P000400 27.5
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
063 A000400 4
063 B000400 0.0
064 A000400 N
064 B000400 N
070 A010400 Y
070 A020400 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 11
070 B010400 N
070 B020400 N
070 C010400 Y
070 C020400 N
070 D010400 N
070 D020400 N
070 E010400 Y
070 E020400 N
070 F010400 N
070 F020400 N
070 G010400 Y
070 G020400 N
070 H010400 N
070 H020400 N
070 I010400 N
070 I020400 N
070 J010400 Y
070 J020400 N
070 K010400 N
070 K020400 N
070 L010400 Y
070 L020400 N
070 M010400 Y
070 M020400 N
070 N010400 Y
070 N020400 N
070 O010400 Y
070 O020400 N
070 P010400 Y
070 P020400 Y
070 Q010400 N
070 Q020400 N
070 R010400 N
070 R020400 N
071 A000400 8298
071 B000400 3538
071 C000400 4924
071 D000400 72
072 A000400 6
072 B000400 158
072 C000400 0
072 D000400 0
072 E000400 0
072 F000400 10
072 G000400 62
072 H000400 0
072 I000400 4
072 J000400 9
072 K000400 0
072 L000400 5
072 M000400 1
<PAGE> PAGE 12
072 N000400 13
072 O000400 0
072 P000400 0
072 Q000400 24
072 R000400 1
072 S000400 2
072 T000400 0
072 U000400 0
072 V000400 0
072 W000400 7
072 X000400 138
072 Y000400 138
072 Z000400 158
072AA000400 34
072BB000400 2
072CC010400 0
072CC020400 66
072DD010400 158
072DD020400 0
072EE000400 0
073 A010400 0.3200
073 A020400 0.0000
073 B000400 0.0000
073 C000400 0.0000
074 A000400 0
074 B000400 185
074 C000400 0
074 D000400 4722
074 E000400 0
074 F000400 0
074 G000400 0
074 H000400 0
074 I000400 0
074 J000400 0
074 K000400 0
074 L000400 90
074 M000400 0
074 N000400 4997
074 O000400 0
074 P000400 0
074 Q000400 0
074 R010400 0
074 R020400 0
074 R030400 0
074 R040400 30
074 S000400 0
074 T000400 4967
074 U010400 500
074 U020400 0
074 V010400 9.93
074 V020400 0.00
<PAGE> PAGE 13
074 W000400 0.0000
074 X000400 6
074 Y000400 0
075 A000400 0
075 B000400 4309
076 000400 0.00
SIGNATURE S. ELLIOTT COHEN
TITLE ASST.GEN. COUNSEL
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 01
<NAME> Federated Total Return Series, Inc.
Federated Government Total Return Fund
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Sep-30-1996
<PERIOD-END> Mar-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 5,151,620
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 5,034,349
<RECEIVABLES> 52,239
<ASSETS-OTHER> 1,866
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 5,088,454
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 31,841
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 31,841
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5,100,209
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 510,021
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 10,021
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 73,675
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (117,271)
<NET-ASSETS> 5,056,613
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 168,774
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 168,774
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 73,675
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (117,271)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 125,178
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 168,774
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 500,000
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,000,003
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 10,227
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 147,627
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4,444,199
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.000
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.340
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.090)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.340
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.910
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.00
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.000
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 02
<NAME> Federated Total Return Series, Inc.
Federated Short-Term Total Return Fund
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Sep-30-1996
<PERIOD-END> Mar-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 4,973,017
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 4,907,069
<RECEIVABLES> 89,886
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 4,996,955
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 29,787
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 29,787
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 5,000,484
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 500,048
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 37
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 32,632
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (65,948)
<NET-ASSETS> 4,967,168
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 157,809
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 0
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 157,809
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 32,632
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (65,948)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 124,493
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 157,809
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 500,000
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 12
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 5,000,111
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 9,921
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 138,064
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 4,308,902
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.000
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.320
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.070)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.320
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.930
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.00
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.000
</TABLE>