Your spouse is never considered your dependent. On a
joint return, you may claim one exemption for yourself and one for your
spouse. If you’re filing a separate return, you may claim the exemption
for your spouse only if they had no gross income, are not filing a joint
return, and were not the dependent of another taxpayer.
https://www.irs.gov/uac/six-important-facts-about-dependents-and-exemptions-1
The exemption amount for a spouse is the same as the exemption amount for a dependent: $4050 (for 2016).
Remember that you can still file a joint return even if one spouse had no income. For most couples, filing jointly results in a lower tax bill than filing separately.
**Answers are correct to the best of my ability but do not constitute tax or legal advice.
