Taipei: Taiwan's Ministry of Finance (MOF) announced it will increase the number of NT$500 (US$15.60) prizes in the cloud invoice lottery by 700,000 for each bimonthly draw from January to June, bringing the total to 3.85 million prizes per draw.

According to Focus Taiwan, the initiative aims to encourage consumers to store receipts digitally using mobile barcodes or other carriers. At a press event, MOF Taxation Administration Deputy Director Ni Li-shin stated that funding for uniform invoice prizes and promotional expenses is a statutory expenditure. The agency determines the number and categories of prizes each year based on the approved annual budget and redemption rates from the previous year.

For each drawing from January to June, the MOF will draw one special prize and one grand prize, while first through sixth prizes will each have three winning numbers. Cloud invoice prizes per drawing will include 30 prizes of NT$1 million, 16,000 prizes of NT$2,000, 100,000 prizes of NT$800, and 3.85 million prizes of NT$500.

Officials noted that the prize categories and numbers for the second half of the year will be decided after reviewing redemption data from the first half. The MOF also reminded the public that its e-Invoice Platform allows users to designate a bank account for automatic prize deposits, and the ministry's Uniform Invoice Redemption App provides 24-hour online prize claims.

The ministry encouraged consumers to request cloud invoices, link carriers to mobile barcodes through the e-Invoice platform or app, and claim prizes electronically to promote paperless processes and reduce carbon emissions.