Death of a spouse; joint returns.
For the taxable year in which the death of one spouse or both spouses occurs: 1.
(1)#
A joint return may be filed and shall be signed by both the decedent’s personal representative and the surviving spouse, if any, if a personal representative is appointed before the last day prescribed by law, including extensions, for filing the return of the surviving spouse.
(2)#
A joint return may be filed by the surviving spouse with respect to both that spouse and the decedent if no return for the taxable year has been filed by the decedent and no personal representative is appointed at the time the joint return is filed or before the last day prescribed by law, including extensions, for filing the return of the surviving spouse.
(3)#
If a personal representative of the decedent is appointed after the filing of the joint return by the surviving spouse, the personal representative may disaffirm the joint return by filing, within one 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 filed. If the joint return is disaffirmed, the return filed by the survivor is the survivor’s separate return and the tax on the return shall be determined by excluding all items properly includable in the return of the decedent spouse.