According to the RI tax website, it looks like there is an exemption in RI that would allow me to file either MFS or MFJ since my wife is a "nonresident" (she lived in KY all of 2020):
"JOINT AND SEPARATE RETURNS -- JOINT RETURNS: Generally, if two married individuals file a joint federal income tax return, they also must file a joint Rhode Island income tax return. However, if either one of the married individuals is a resident and the other is a nonresident, they must file separate returns, unless they elect to file a joint return as if both were residents of Rhode Island."
So it sounds like we can "elect to file a joint return as if both were residents of Rhode Island," and have my wife file a single MFS return for KY. Does that sound right?
Thanks again for any and all help.
