Can a RI resident filing married seperately can I file married jointly status for federal filing?

[IsabellaG · Accepted solution]

No, because Rhode Island requires the same filing status used on the federal return.

Exception: If one spouse 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. If the resident spouse files a separate return in Rhode Island, and a joint federal return is filed for both spouses, the resident spouse must compute income, exemptions, and tax as if a separate federal return had been filed. If neither spouse is required to file a federal return, they may elect to file a joint Rhode Island return.