HowBridge Order Sync Extension: Automatically Sync Taobao, 1688 and Pinduoduo Orders and Tracking Numbers

What is the order sync extension, and how does it differ from manually entering pre-alerts?

Lucky Order Sync is a Google Chrome extension (Manifest V3) provided by HowBridge. Previously, you had to copy Taobao, 1688 and Pinduoduo tracking numbers into pre-alerts individually. With the extension installed, a click on your own order page—or its automatic daily check—brings tracking numbers into your HowBridge member dashboard, making it easier to match packages to your member account when they arrive at the Shenzhen warehouse.

How do I install the HowBridge Order Sync extension?

This extension is currently not yet listed in the Chrome Web Store and must be installed using “Load unpacked”. Google’s official documentation cautions that unpacked extensions should only be used to load trusted code. Download only from the official 0523.tw website, and do not install files with the same name from unknown sources.

How do I sync Taobao, 1688 and Pinduoduo orders?

First, sign in to the e-commerce platform in desktop Chrome. The extension only reads what is displayed on your own order page after you sign in; it does not sign in for you.

• Manual sync: on the order page, click the extension icon in the toolbar, click “提取訂單數據 (Extract order data)”, then click “上傳 (Upload)” to sync to HowBridge.
• Daily automatic sync: when enabled, the extension checks every 60 minutes. For any platform not yet synced that day, it opens the order page in the background to extract data and automatically closes the tab afterward.
• Platform not signed in: if automatic sync detects that you are not signed in, a system notification asks you to sign in yourself. It makes no further automatic attempts that day.
• Export a backup: export extracted orders as a lucky_orders_date.json file.

Which order fields does the extension extract?

The table below was checked against orders actually synced in HowBridge’s database (2026-09-30). “Partial” means the information can only be extracted if it appears on the order page; “—” means the platform’s order page does not provide it.

What does the Taiwan import estimator on product pages calculate?

Open a product page on Taobao or Tmall and click the “台灣進口試算 (Taiwan import estimate)” tab on the right to estimate the following items from the product name and price. All data comes from HowBridge’s public estimation API and matches the 0523.tw/c shipping and tax estimator.

How are import taxes and fees calculated? What restrictions apply to the NT$2,000 exemption?

The estimator uses formulas published by the Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Taiwan). The tax base is the customs value (CIF): the product price plus freight and insurance to the port of entry in Taiwan.

• Express goods in the same consignment with a customs value (CIF) of NT$2,000 or less are exempt from customs duty and from business tax and commodity tax collected by Customs. Tobacco and alcohol do not qualify.
• Once the same taxpayer has used tax-exempt release more than 6 times within a half-year (months 1–6 or 7–12), shipments from the 7th onward are no longer tax-exempt. The count resets every year on January 1 and July 1 (01-01, 07-01).
• Express goods imported in the same consignment may not be declared separately.
• From March 1, 2026 (2026-03-01), individuals importing express goods under simplified declarations who use online authorization with real-name authentication must first confirm in the EZ WAY app that the shipment matches their actual purchase before a customs declaration is filed.

How are sea express, air freight, sea LCL cargo and oversize surcharges calculated?

Shipping charges use HowBridge’s published rates. The product-page estimator calculates an amount only after you enter weight, length, width and height.

What data does the extension read, and what permissions does it need?

The extension reads order information displayed on Taobao, 1688 and Pinduoduo order pages on your computer, temporarily stores it locally in your browser first (up to 100 batches), then sends it to your HowBridge member dashboard to create pre-alerts. It does not request Cookie permission, only checks sign-in status, does not upload cookies, and does not read or store account credentials.

• Under Articles 19 and 20 of the Personal Data Protection Act (Taiwan), HowBridge collects, processes and uses order data within the scope of its consolidated shipping contract with members. See the Privacy Policy for details.
• Orders may contain recipients’ names, phone numbers and addresses, all of which are personal data. Install and link the extension only on your own computer.
• Removing the extension also clears its locally cached browser data. Pre-alerts already synced to your member dashboard are unaffected.

What does research say about cross-border consolidated shipping information and browser extensions?

The following research provides background only; it does not mean the researchers have evaluated HowBridge’s tools.

• Public Finance Review reports that large volumes of cross-border e-commerce parcels shifted to sea express during the pandemic, and the volume of simplified declarations at one point exceeded the processing capacity of customs clearance equipment.
• A study in Maritime Quarterly using the analytic hierarchy process found cross-border e-commerce information integration capability to be the most important factor, with information security and accuracy also among the top five criteria.
• A master’s thesis at Tamkang University found that privacy risk affects Taiwanese consumers’ intention to use cross-border e-commerce platforms through satisfaction and trust.
• A USENIX Security 2024 study found that extensions with sufficient permissions can read and leak web page content. This is why this page publicly lists every permission and the scope of data access.
• Research shows that listing in the Chrome Web Store does not guarantee a comprehensive review. Download HowBridge’s extension only from the official 0523.tw website.

Glossary

Tracking number

The tracking identifier assigned by a courier when a Chinese e-commerce seller ships an order. It is used to match the package to a member’s pre-alert when it arrives at the Shenzhen warehouse.

Pre-alert

Information sent to the consolidation provider before a package arrives, identifying the member it belongs to and its contents.

Unpacked extension

An extension loaded directly from a folder without being published through the Chrome Web Store. Developer mode must be enabled.

Manifest V3

The latest version of the Chrome extension platform. Background code runs only when needed, and remotely hosted code cannot be executed.

Tariff code

A classification code for imported goods. Taiwan uses 11-digit commodity classification codes to determine tariff rates and import requirements.

Import requirement code

A control code in the tariff schedule, such as MW0 (import from mainland China is prohibited; exception: small quantities in Chapters 25–97 need no import permit if the whole declaration is within CIF NT$32,000 and each single product is within 24 pieces, with a 40 kg limit only for goods that cannot be counted; electric motorcycles, electric bicycles and their controllers are excluded, and Chapters 1–24 do not qualify), C02 (some products require inspection) or F01 (food import inspection).

Customs value (CIF)

The tax base: the CIF value of imported goods, including freight and insurance to the port of entry in Taiwan.

Sea LCL cargo

Consolidated shipping by sea container. Rates vary by product; ask customer service for a quote. From NT$25 per kg or NT$150 per volume unit, with volume units calculated using ÷28316.

Advance confirmation of authorization

Fully implemented from March 1, 2026 (2026-03-01): individuals importing express goods under simplified declarations must first confirm in the EZ WAY app that the shipment matches their actual purchase before a customs declaration is filed.

What sources were used, and what was verified?

The following sources were accessed on 2026-09-30. Document dates and access dates are listed separately; no update date is invented where none is explicitly provided.

Government and official primary sources

• Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Taiwan): Express Consignments (FAQ) | Document date: 2026-07-08. Goods in the same consignment with a customs value (CIF) of NT$2,000 or less are exempt from customs duty and from business tax and commodity tax collected by Customs. This does not apply to tobacco, alcohol, agricultural products subject to tariff quotas, or frequent imports. More than 6 tax-exempt clearances by the same taxpayer in a half-year (months 1–6 or 7–12) constitute frequent imports. The count resets on month 1, day 1 and month 7, day 1.
• Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Taiwan): What Taxes and Fees Are Payable on Imported Goods? | Document date: 2026-07-13. Customs duty = customs value × tariff rate; trade promotion service fee = customs value × 0.04%, waived if the fee is NT$100 or less; commodity tax applies only to taxable categories; business tax = (customs value + customs duty + commodity tax, etc.) × 5%. Customs value is the CIF value.
• Laws & Regulations Database of Taiwan: Customs Act | Document date: amended ROC year 111, month 5, day 11. Article 29: customs value is based on transaction value and must include freight and insurance to the port of entry. Article 49, paragraph 2: goods in the same consignment with a customs value at or below the limit announced by the Ministry of Finance (Taiwan) are tax-exempt, except in cases of frequent imports.
• Laws & Regulations Database of Taiwan: Regulations Governing Clearance of Air Express Consignments | Document date: amended ROC year 115, month 2, day 23. Article 11: low-value tax-exempt (NT$2,000 or less), low-value taxable (NT$2,001–50,000), and high-value (over NT$50,000). Article 14: express goods imported in the same consignment may not be declared separately. Article 17: individual authorizations may be submitted online through a real-name authentication platform.
• Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Taiwan) News: Advance Confirmation of Authorization Fully Implemented from March 1, 2026 (2026-03-01) | Document date: 2026-02-24. The Ministry of Finance (Taiwan) amended the express consignment clearance regulations on ROC year 115, month 2, day 23. From March 1, 2026 (2026-03-01), advance confirmation of authorization is fully implemented for individuals importing express goods under simplified declarations using online authorization with real-name authentication: they must first confirm in the EZ WAY app that the shipment matches their actual purchase, and only then does the customs broker file the declaration.
• Ministry of Finance (Taiwan) News: Overseas Online Shopping Is Easy, but Watch Out for Frequent Imports | Document date: 2024-10-01. Taxes and fees are payable after exceeding the allowance of 6 low-value tax-exempt clearances per person per half-year. You can check your own number of low-value tax-exempt clearances through the Customs-Port-Trade Single Window.
• Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Taiwan): Which Mainland Chinese Goods May Be Imported? | Document date: 2026-07-09. Mainland Chinese goods with neither MW0 nor MP1 in the import requirements field may be imported without an import permit.
• Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance (Taiwan): Import Requirements for Different Goods | Document date: 2026-09-03. Mainland Chinese goods marked MP1 and MXX in the special provisions field require an import permit from the International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan). Goods marked MW0 may not be imported.
• International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan) Announcement: Rules Permitting the Import of Small Quantities of Mainland Goods Without an Import Permit | Document date: issued ROC year 101, month 3, day 6. MW0 = import from mainland China is prohibited; exception: small quantities in Chapters 25–97 need no import permit if the whole declaration is within CIF NT$32,000 and each single product is within 24 pieces, with a 40 kg limit only for goods that cannot be counted; electric motorcycles, electric bicycles and their controllers are excluded, and Chapters 1–24 do not qualify (currently under the announcements of 19 August 2022 and 10 March 2026). Other import requirements still apply.
• Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI): FAQ (Import Requirements C01/C02) | Document date: 2023-08-11. Import requirement C01 or C02 means that “some products under this heading” are subject to import inspection announced by BSMI; it does not mean every product requires inspection.
• Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA): FAQ (Import Requirement F01) | Document date: 2022-02-10 (maintained 2025-03-21). Products marked F01, F02 or 508 require an application for import inspection under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation. Products not intended for sale and meeting the announced value and quantity limits may be exempt from applying for inspection.
• Laws & Regulations Database of Taiwan: Personal Data Protection Act (Taiwan) | Document date: amended ROC year 114, month 11, day 11 (effective dates for some provisions have not been set). Article 19: a non-government agency must have a specific purpose for collecting or processing personal data and satisfy conditions such as having a contractual relationship with the data subject and adopting appropriate security measures, or obtaining the data subject’s consent. Article 20: use is limited to the scope necessary for the specific purpose, and marketing must stop when the data subject declines it.
• Specific Purposes and Categories of Personal Data under the Personal Data Protection Act (Taiwan) | Document date: amended ROC year 101, month 10, day 1. Specific-purpose codes include “one-four-eight: online shopping and other e-commerce services”, “zero-six-nine: contractual, quasi-contractual or other legal relationship matters”, and “zero-nine-zero: consumer and customer management and services”.
• HCT Logistics: Volume Calculation Method | Document date: no date shown on the page. Volume in cai = length × width × height ÷27,000 (dimensions in cm, rounded up); shipping charges use the greater of volume in cai and actual weight. The official website does not publish oversize surcharge thresholds.
• Chrome for Developers: Hello World (Load Unpacked Extensions) | Document date: Last updated 2022-10-04. Enable “Developer mode” at chrome://extensions, then click “Load unpacked” and select the extension folder.
• Chrome for Developers: Distribute your extension | Document date: Last updated 2023-12-12. Unpacked extensions should only be used to load trusted code. Extensions that ordinary users can install directly are hosted and signed by the Chrome Web Store.
• Chrome for Developers: Permissions list | Document date: Last updated 2026-09-09. The installation warning for tabs is “Read your browsing history”; for downloads, “Manage your downloads”; and for notifications, “Display notifications”. storage and alarms grant access to the chrome.storage and chrome.alarms APIs, respectively.
• Chrome for Developers: What is Manifest V3? | Document date: no date shown on the page. Manifest V3 is the latest version of the extension platform. Background code becomes a service worker that runs only when needed, and the ability to execute remotely hosted code is removed.

Research literature

Frequently asked questions about the HowBridge Order Sync extension

Does the extension cost anything?

Will the extension obtain my Taobao account credentials?

Why must I enable Developer mode? Is it safe?

Can I use it on my phone?

Can Tmall orders be synced?

Why do some orders have no tracking number?

Are the Taiwan import estimator’s tariff classifications always correct?

What happens if my purchase exceeds NT$2,000?

Why can’t sea LCL cargo shipping charges be calculated directly?

How do I update to a new version?

Further reading