NT$2 plastic bag wins NT$10 million in Taiwan's invoice lottery

Taipei, April 2 (CNA) A NT$2 plastic bag at a New Taipei McDonald's was the lowest spend to win the NT$10 million (US$312,734) special prize in Taiwan's January-February uniform invoice lottery, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said Thursday.

A total of 14 invoice receipts matched the winning number 87510041, with 11 of them under NT$100, according to the ministry.

Other winning receipts include a NT$4 foodpanda fee, and NT$39 purchases at a 7-Eleven at the National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei and a FamilyMart in Yilan County.

Meanwhile, the highest spend to win NT$10 million was for a NT$1,579 meal in Taipei.

In addition, 19 invoices won the NT$2 million grand prize, whose winning number was 32220522.

The lowest spend that won this prize was a NT$6 handling fee at a 7-Eleven in Taoyuan, according to the MOF.

Receipts matching the numbers 21677046, 44662410 and 31262513 are eligible for the first prize of NT200,000.

The MOF said that a total of 109 receipts won the special, grand and first prize as well as the special cloud receipt prize of NT$1 million, with a prize sum over NT$274 million. 77 of these receipts were in a cloud instead of physical form.

Winners can claim their prizes from April 6 to July 6.

The MOF's Taxation Administration encouraged consumers to opt for cloud receipts, which are eligible for both standard and cloud-exclusive receipt lotteries while reducing carbon emissions by eliminating paper receipts.

The uniform invoice lottery, held every two months, was introduced to encourage consumers to request receipts and help prevent tax evasion.

It is funded by 3 percent of annual business tax revenue, which is built into the prices of most goods and services.