Did your shipping invoice win? HowBridge's automatic prize check and how to claim for 5 invoice types
HowBridge automatically checks the winning numbers published by the Ministry of Finance (財政部) every day, but currently does not send prize notifications. When an invoice stored in a mobile barcode wins, the Ministry of Finance E-Invoice Platform notifies you by email, and if you have set up a prize-receiving account the prize is paid automatically; with a paper certificate copy you must check the numbers yourself and claim with the certificate copy.
By law, invoices issued with a company tax ID are not eligible for prizes, and the prize for a donated invoice goes to the recipient organization. HowBridge's consolidated-shipping invoices always carry the single line item "consolidated shipping service fee"; the taxes we pay on your behalf are not invoiced, so they are not part of the prize draw either.
Last updated: 2026-09-24 | Regulations and official guidance summarized from the original texts consulted on 2026-09-24; the Ministry of Finance's announcements prevail
Who notifies you of a prize? The Ministry of Finance, not HowBridge
When a consolidated-shipping invoice wins, the notification comes from the Ministry of Finance (財政部) E-Invoice Platform, and only for cloud invoices stored in a mobile barcode (or consolidated under a mobile barcode). HowBridge currently has no prize notification feature and will not tell you about a prize by LINE, email, text message or phone.
Point 12, item 1 of the Ministry of Finance (財政部) Notes on Applying for and Using the Mobile Barcode (手機條碼申請、使用及相關注意事項, Ver 1.3, 1 July 2026): "When a cloud invoice stored using a mobile barcode as the carrier (including carriers consolidated under that mobile barcode before the draw) wins, the E-Invoice Platform will send a prize notification to the consumer's email address." Point 5 of the claiming notes on the eTax Portal page "Cloud Invoice Exclusive Prize Winning Numbers" likewise states that for mobile barcode carrier users, "the E-Invoice Platform proactively notifies winners by email, and results can also be checked on that platform or at convenience store multimedia kiosks".
Although the HowBridge system checks the winning numbers every day (see the next section), the results are only kept in internal records; they are not shown on your billing page and no prize notification of any kind is sent. So members who chose a paper certificate copy must check the numbers themselves, and members using a mobile barcode should rely on the Ministry of Finance's notifications and the platform's search results.
What HowBridge's automatic prize check does and does not do
The HowBridge system automatically retrieves the winning numbers published on the Ministry of Finance eTax Portal every day and checks them against the e-invoices the system has issued. Its scope and limits are as follows:
- Source of the numbers: the uniform invoice winning numbers published on the Ministry of Finance eTax Portal. Under Article 3 of the Regulations Governing Uniform Invoice Awards (統一發票給獎辦法), the second to sixth prizes are simply the last 7 to last 3 digits of the first-prize numbers, so the special prize, grand prize, first prize and additional sixth prize numbers are enough to check all the regular prizes.
- Only invoices eligible for prizes are checked: valid invoices issued by the system; voided, cancelled and donated invoices are excluded (the prize for a donated invoice goes to the recipient organization).
- Only the highest prize is recorded for each invoice: consistent with Article 6 of the Regulations, "each invoice may claim only one prize according to the prize category it wins".
- Cloud invoice exclusive prizes cannot be checked: an exclusive prize (the NT$1 million, NT$1,000, NT$800 and NT$500 prizes) requires an exact match of the "cloud invoice alphabetic prefix and 8-digit number", which cannot be derived from the published numbers. Invoices stored in a mobile barcode are checked directly by the Ministry of Finance platform, so they are not affected.
- No notification, no display: the results are currently neither shown on the member billing page nor sent as prize notifications.
All invoices issued by the HowBridge system were issued from September 2026 onward and belong to the September–October 2026 period, whose first draw is not until 25 November 2026. Until then the result will be 0 invoices; this is normal and does not mean the invoices are excluded from the draw.
Which kind is your invoice? Prize checking and claiming for 5 invoice types
HowBridge e-invoices can be issued in 5 ways, and only one can be chosen per invoice. First check how the invoice was issued under "Docs → Freight invoices" on your billing page, then see the table below:
| Issuance method | How you find out about a prize | How to claim | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile barcode | The Ministry of Finance E-Invoice Platform sends an email notification; you can also check on the platform, in the Ministry of Finance uniform invoice redemption app or at a convenience store multimedia kiosk (KIOSK). Both regular prizes and cloud invoice exclusive prizes are checked. | Set up a prize-receiving account by 23:59 on the day before the draw → the prize is paid automatically on the 6th of the month after the draw. Without an account: enter your prize details in the redemption app and claim there, or print a winning certificate copy at a KIOSK and claim with it. | If you print the cloud invoice on paper before the draw, it can no longer win a cloud invoice exclusive prize. |
| Citizen Digital Certificate barcode | Log in to the Ministry of Finance platform with your Citizen Digital Certificate to check. The official guidance does not state whether this carrier receives email notifications, so rely on the platform search. | If you have set up a prize payment account on the platform, the prize is paid directly after deduction of any tax due; you can also print a winning certificate copy at a KIOSK to claim. | Same as above: don't print before the draw. |
| Paper certificate copy (default) | No one will notify you. You must check your invoice number against the winning numbers published by the Ministry of Finance yourself. It is not a cloud invoice, so there are no exclusive prizes. | Within 3 months from the 6th of the month after the draw, take your ID document and the winning e-invoice certificate copy to a paying institution and claim over the counter. | If the invoice does not name a buyer, the winner is the "holder of the certificate copy", so keep it safe. |
| Company tax ID | — | Not eligible for prizes by law (Article 11, paragraph 1, subparagraph 9 of the Regulations: the buyer is a business entity). | Enter the tax ID if you need it for expense claims; leave it out if you want the prize draw. You cannot have both. |
| Donation code | You will not receive a notification. | The invoice has been donated, so the prize is claimed by the recipient agency or organization; you cannot claim it yourself. | The HowBridge system does not check donated invoices either. |
Basis: Articles 3-1, 5, 8, 9 and 11 of the Regulations Governing Uniform Invoice Awards (統一發票給獎辦法); points 12 and 17 of the Notes on Applying for and Using the Mobile Barcode, Ver 1.3; points 5 and 6 of the claiming notes on the eTax Portal page "Cloud Invoice Exclusive Prize Winning Numbers". For how to choose among the five issuance methods and how to enter a tax ID, see E-invoice guide: the five issuance methods.
How draw dates and claim deadlines are calculated
Uniform invoices are drawn on the 25th of every odd-numbered month for the previous period (the previous two months); winners must claim within 3 months from the 6th of the month after the draw. This is based on Article 3 of the Regulations Governing Uniform Invoice Awards (統一發票給獎辦法) ("on the 25th of every odd-numbered month, winning numbers are drawn … for the uniform invoices of the previous period") and Article 8, paragraph 1 ("winners shall claim their prize from a paying institution within three months from the 6th of the month following the draw date"). Taking HowBridge's next two invoice periods as examples:
| Invoice issuance months | Draw date | Latest time to set up the automatic payment account | Claim period (automatic payment is postponed on holidays) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September–October 2026 | 25 November 2026 | 24 November 2026, 23:59 | Within 3 months from 6 December 2026 |
| November–December 2026 | 25 January 2027 | 24 January 2027, 23:59 | Within 3 months from 6 February 2027 |
The dates above are calculated from the regulations. If the automatic payment date falls on a holiday it is postponed to the next business day (for example, 6 December 2026 is a Sunday); for the claim deadline and the actual payment date, the Ministry of Finance's announcement for each period prevails. Compare an official example: the eTax Portal announced that the claim period for the May–June 2026 cloud invoice exclusive prizes runs from 6 August 2026 to 5 November 2026 — exactly "drawn on 25 July, 3 months from the 6th of the following month". Under Article 11, paragraph 1, subparagraph 10 of the Regulations, prizes not claimed in time are forfeited.
Mobile barcode: set up automatic prize payment
If you want to win without making a trip, store your consolidated-shipping invoices in a mobile barcode and set up a prize-receiving account on the Ministry of Finance platform. Three steps:
1Apply for a mobile barcode and verify your email
On the Ministry of Finance E-Invoice Platform, apply with your mobile number, email address, a verification code of your choice and a one-time SMS password; only after email verification can you use functions such as carrier consolidation and prize settings, and prize notifications are sent to this email address (points 4 and 12 of the Notes).
2Set it once on HowBridge and it is filled in automatically
Under "Invoice Settings" on your HowBridge billing page, choose "Mobile barcode" and enter the barcode; every later payment will be invoiced to that barcode automatically. For how to set it up and the format, see E-invoice guide: set once, filled in automatically.
3Set up the prize-receiving account by 23:59 on the day before the draw
Set up the prize-receiving account on the platform or in the Ministry of Finance uniform invoice redemption app. Point 5 of the Notes: "consumers shall complete the bank account setup by 23:59 on the day before the draw date of the current period"; changes made after 24:00 take effect from the next period's winning invoices. The prize is deposited automatically on the 6th of the month after the draw (postponed to the next business day if it falls on a holiday); if the transfer fails, the platform notifies you by email.
Point 12, item 2 of the Notes: for mobile barcodes with a bank account set up, cloud invoice prizes are deposited automatically and "the consumer may not print the e-invoice certificate copy again". Article 8, paragraph 3 of the Regulations also provides that automatic payments are made after deduction of any tax due.
Paper certificate copy: check and claim it yourself
For invoices with no carrier chosen and no tax ID entered, HowBridge issues a paper e-invoice certificate copy, which is also the default. No one will notify you if this kind of invoice wins. The process is as follows:
1Download the certificate copy from your billing page
Under "Docs → Freight invoices" on your HowBridge billing page you can see each invoice and download the certificate copy as a PDF. From the 2nd download onward, the certificate copy is marked "reprint".
2Check the numbers yourself after the draw on the 25th of each odd-numbered month
Go to the uniform invoice winning numbers page on the Ministry of Finance eTax Portal, or scan with the Ministry of Finance uniform invoice redemption app, and check the 8-digit number on the invoice.
3Claim over the counter with the certificate copy and your ID document
Article 9 of the Regulations: when claiming, winners "shall bring their ID document and the winning uniform invoice receipt copy or e-invoice certificate copy … to a paying institution and fill in a receipt to claim the prize". The deadline is again within 3 months from the 6th of the month after the draw; for claim locations and opening hours, follow the paying institution's announcements.
Article 5, paragraph 1 of the Regulations: for a winning uniform invoice "that does not name a buyer", the winner is the "holder of the winning e-invoice certificate copy". In other words, whoever holds the winning certificate copy can claim the prize, so do not hand it to others or throw it away carelessly.
Stored in a carrier? Don't print the certificate copy before the draw
Invoices stored in a mobile barcode or Citizen Digital Certificate are "cloud invoices", and in addition to the regular prizes they get an extra chance at the cloud invoice exclusive prizes. But this eligibility has a condition: the e-invoice certificate copy must not be printed before the draw.
Article 3-1, paragraph 4 of the Regulations Governing Uniform Invoice Awards (統一發票給獎辦法): a cloud invoice is an e-invoice issued and transmitted using a carrier approved by the Ministry of Finance (or donated with a donation code), "for which no e-invoice certificate copy has been printed". Point 2 of the eTax Portal claiming notes puts it more directly: "Anyone who prints a paper e-invoice before the draw will lose eligibility to claim, even if the cloud invoice exclusive prize prefix and number match." The invoice settings on the HowBridge billing page carry the same reminder.
Article 3-1, paragraph 5: "Where an e-invoice certificate copy is printed for a winning cloud invoice, the provision of the preceding paragraph concerning not printing the e-invoice certificate copy does not apply." So for people without a prize-receiving account, printing a winning certificate copy at a KIOSK after winning and claiming with it is a normal way to collect the prize.
What to do if you receive a "HowBridge prize notification"
HowBridge does not send prize notifications, so any message claiming to be from HowBridge and saying your consolidated-shipping invoice has won should be treated as a scam.
A Ministry of Finance news release, "Invoice prize notification? Don't click it!", warns: if you receive an email about an invoice prize, stick to the principles of "don't click links" and "don't enter personal data", and log in directly to the Ministry of Finance uniform invoice redemption app or the E-Invoice Platform to check your winning records. The official platform address is
https://www.einvoice.nat.gov.tw and the genuine email address is einvoice@einvoice.nat.gov.tw; both end in .gov.tw, which is reserved for government agencies.E-invoice 24-hour toll-free line 0800-521-988; the 165 anti-fraud hotline; HowBridge customer service line 03-3936426. For more cases, see the anti-fraud section of the e-invoice guide and the complete guide to avoiding cross-border online shopping scams.
- Regulations Governing Uniform Invoice Awards (統一發票給獎辦法) (Laws & Regulations Database of the Republic of China (Taiwan), amended 21 July 2022): Articles 3, 3-1, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 11
- E-invoice common carrier: Notes on Applying for and Using the Mobile Barcode (Fiscal Information Agency, Ministry of Finance, Ver 1.3, ROC 115/7/1, i.e. 2026-07-01): points 4, 5, 12 and 17
- Cloud Invoice Exclusive Prize Winning Numbers (雲端發票專屬獎中獎號碼) · claiming notes (Ministry of Finance eTax Portal, page updated 2026-08-04): points 2, 4, 5, 6 and 8
- Invoice prize notification? Don't click it! (發票中獎通知？毋通點下去！) (Ministry of Finance news release)
- Uniform invoice winning numbers (Ministry of Finance eTax Portal)
- Scope and results of HowBridge's automatic prize check (0 winning invoices as of 2026-09-24): actual settings and internal records of the HowBridge e-invoice system
If the regulations or official guidance are amended, the latest original text prevails. This page is not legal or tax advice; for individual cases, please contact the Ministry of Finance or the competent National Taxation Bureau.
- E-invoice guide: tax ID, carriers, certificate copies and refund voiding
- How to claim an invoice prize: prize amounts and ineligible cases
- Storing shipping invoices in a mobile barcode: HowBridge carrier settings, no member-carrier consolidation needed
- HowBridge payment methods: e-invoices issued automatically after payment
- The complete guide to avoiding cross-border online shopping scams
Frequently asked questions
This page is general information and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Prize categories, numbers of prizes, claim deadlines and claiming methods are always subject to the latest announcements of the Ministry of Finance and the competent National Taxation Bureau.
Set up your invoices first so you never miss a prize
Choose mobile barcode under "Invoice Settings" on your billing page, and every consolidated-shipping payment will be stored in the carrier automatically, with the Ministry of Finance checking prizes and notifying you.
Sign up for HowBridge free Read the e-invoice guide