Definitions for "Joint return"
This is an income tax filing status for married couples. If your state of residence recognizes common-law marriages, the IRS will allow the use of a joint return. Your marital status on December 31st of a given year will govern your tax filing status for that year. If each spouse has separate income, a joint return can result in a marriage tax penalty (more tax than if they were two single taxpayers).
The form for, or method of, filing income tax returns whereby married couples combine their incomes, deductions, exemptions, tax computations, etc. This is optional, but in some cases results in lower federal income taxes, as compared with filing separately. (A surviving spouse with dependent children may generally file a joint return for two taxable years after the death of his or her spouse.)
A U.S. income tax filing status that can be used by a married couple, in which income and deductions for the two individuals are combined. see also separate return