(1) A husband and wife may make a single return jointly even though one of the spouses has neither gross income nor deductions, except as provided below: No joint return shall be made if, during the current taxable year, either the husband or the wife is a nonresident alien of the United States, unless they elect to file a joint return for federal purposes pursuant to sections 6013(g) and (h) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(2) No joint return shall be made if husband and wife have different taxable years, unless the difference in taxable years is the result of the death of either or both of them; except that if either spouse changes his annual accounting period during the taxable year, or if the surviving spouse remarries within the taxable year no such return shall be filed.
(3) For the purpose of subsection (2) of this section [paragraph (2) of this subsection], the joint return, if permitted, shall be treated as if the taxable years of both spouses ended on the date of the closing of the surviving spouse’s taxable year.
(4) In the case of death of one spouse or both spouses the joint return with respect to the decedent may be made only by his executor or administrator; except that in the case of the death of one spouse the joint return may be made by the surviving spouse with respect to both himself and the decedent if no return for the taxable year has been made by the decedent, no executor or administrator has been appointed, and no executor or administrator is appointed before the last day prescribed by law for filing the return of the surviving spouse. If an executor or administrator of the decedent is appointed after the making of the joint return by the surviving spouse, the executor or administrator may disaffirm such joint return by making, within one (1) year after the last day prescribed by law for filing the return of the surviving spouse, a separate return for the taxable year of the decedent with respect to which the joint return was made, in which case the return made by the survivor shall constitute his separate return.
(5) Definitions. For purposes of this section— The status as husband and wife of two (2) individuals having taxable years beginning on the same day shall be determined if both have the same taxable year — as of the close of such year; and
(6) if one dies before the close of the taxable year of the other — as of the time of such death; and
(7) An individual who is legally separated from his spouse under a decree of divorce or of separate maintenance shall not be considered as married; and
(8) If a joint return is made, the tax shall be computed on the aggregate income and the liability with respect to the tax shall be joint and several.
(9) Husbands and wives shall, if they elect to file a joint return for federal purposes, be required to file a joint return for state purposes.