If you had the children until sometime in July then they were with you for more than 183 nights and you are the one who can claim them. But you have to mail your tax return. You cannot e-file. And your sister needs to amend to remove them as dependents on her tax return since they cannot be claimed on two returns.
When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2’s or any 1099’s. Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.
Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses. Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.
Expect a pretty long time (months) for the IRS to process your mailed return. You are not going to be able to receive the monthly child tax credits, but you can get the credit on your 2021 tax return. If your sister is receiving those payments she should go to the IRS Manage Payments site to opt out so she will not end up having to repay them next year.
Sorry for the problems with your vision--hope you are doing all right now. And----if you are legally blind make sure to mark your 2020 return accordingly so that you get the increased standard deduction for being blind; it makes less of your income taxable.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
