📌 Key Takeaways
- What it is: HRDF claimable training is training funded through your HRD Corp levy, so registered employers can upskill staff without paying course fees directly.
- Who qualifies: Registration is compulsory for employers with 10 or more Malaysian employees in covered sectors, at a 1% levy, and optional for 5 to 9 employees at 0.5%.
- Apply before training: Grant applications are made in eTRiS before the course starts, and in-house programmes can run 14 days after approval under rules effective 15 June 2026.
- Claim deadline: Training claims must be submitted within six months of the course completion date.
- Software courses: AutoCount, Oracle NetSuite and brioHR courses from a registered training provider can be funded, which lowers the cost of a new system rollout.
Table of Contents
- What Is HRDF Claimable Training?
- Who Can Claim: HRD Corp Registration and Levy Basics
- How HRD Corp Claimable Courses Work
- Step-by-Step: How to Claim HRDF Claimable Training in eTRiS
- 2026 Timing Rules You Need to Know
- Which Software Courses Can Be Funded Through HRD Corp
- How to Get the Most From Claimable Software Training
- Common HRDF Claim Mistakes to Avoid
- Next Steps: Plan Your HRDF Claimable Software Training
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is HRDF Claimable Training?
HRDF claimable training is training that a Malaysian employer pays for using its HRD Corp levy balance instead of cash, provided the course is run by an HRD Corp registered training provider and the grant is approved before training starts. Under the HRD Corp Claimable Courses scheme, the employer does not need to pay the training fee to the provider upfront, which makes it a practical way to fund software training when you implement a new accounting, ERP or HR system.
HRD Corp (Human Resource Development Corporation, previously Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad and still widely called HRDF) collects a monthly levy from registered employers and returns it as training grants. This guide covers who must register, how the levy works, the step-by-step grant process in eTRiS, the timing rules that apply in 2026, and how to plan HRDF claimable software courses with iDynamics.
Who Can Claim: HRD Corp Registration and Levy Basics
Only employers registered with HRD Corp and up to date on levy payments can apply for training grants. HRD Corp states that employers with outstanding levy and interest are not eligible for the Claimable Courses scheme.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Compulsory registration | Employers with 10 or more Malaysian employees in covered sectors |
| Optional registration | Employers with 5 to 9 Malaysian employees |
| Levy rate | 1% (compulsory category) or 0.5% (optional category) |
| Levy base | Monthly wages plus fixed allowances |
| Payment due | By the 15th of every month |
| Employee deduction | Not allowed: the levy is an employer cost |
| Coverage | All sectors except Federal and State Government and statutory bodies, with specific rules for NGOs |
Late levy payment can lead to a fine of up to RM20,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both, plus interest, according to the HRD Corp employers FAQ. Because the levy is calculated on payroll, payroll systems such as AutoCount Cloud HRMS let you flag which employees contribute to HRDF and set the rate, so the monthly amount is accurate.
Check your levy balance first
Before planning a course, log in to eTRiS and check your available levy balance. The grant you can receive is limited by what is in your levy account, so a company with a small headcount may need to prioritise one or two key courses a year rather than training every user at once.
How HRD Corp Claimable Courses Work
The HRD Corp Claimable Courses scheme, known in eTRiS as Skim Bantuan Latihan Khas (SBL-Khas), is the route most employers use for software training. Key points:
- Registered provider and programme: the scheme only applies to training by an HRD Corp registered training provider, and since 1 April 2021 providers must register each programme.
- No upfront fee from the employer: HRD Corp states that employers do not need to pay the training fee to the provider, which reduces the cash burden.
- Optional upfront payment to the provider: with the employer’s consent, a provider may request up to 30% of the approved course fee upfront.
- Minimum length: programmes must run for at least four hours.
- Claimable costs: course fees plus related costs such as meals, daily allowances, training materials, venue rental and travel, subject to HRD Corp’s allowable cost rules.
- Reimbursement cap: the amount paid is the approved amount or the actual expense, whichever is lower.
Training can be public (open enrolment) or in-house for your own staff. For system implementations, in-house training is usually more useful because it uses your own company setup and processes.
Step-by-Step: How to Claim HRDF Claimable Training in eTRiS
HRD Corp’s employer portal is eTRiS. Registered employers receive a user ID and password by email. The grant application for a Claimable Course follows these steps.
- Confirm the course: get the provider’s registered programme details, a quotation or invoice, the trainer profile and the course schedule or content.
- Log in to eTRiS: go to Application, then Grant, then Apply Grant.
- Select the scheme: choose HRD Corp Claimable Courses: Skim Bantuan Latihan Khas.
- Choose provider and programme: select the training provider, the registered programme, course title, type of training and location.
- Add trainees: create a batch and enter each employee attending.
- Enter costs: key in course fees and any allowances, and the upfront payment percentage if agreed with the provider.
- Declare and submit: complete the declaration, attach the documents and submit before the training date.
- Wait for approval: a grant officer reviews the application and may raise queries. Status updates appear in eTRiS and by email.
- Run the training and record attendance: make sure attendance is captured for every trainee and session.
- Submit the claim: claims must be submitted within six months of the training completion date, with supporting documents such as attendance records.
2026 Timing Rules You Need to Know
HRD Corp changed its approval lead times in 2026. Check the latest position on the HRD Corp Claimable Courses page before you book dates.
| Training type | Earliest start after grant approval | Start window |
|---|---|---|
| In-house (effective 15 June 2026) | 14 days | Within 90 calendar days after the 14-day period |
| Public (15 June to 31 December 2026) | 3 days | Within 90 calendar days after the 3-day period |
| Public (from 1 January 2027) | 14 days | Within 90 calendar days after the 14-day period |
In practice, plan in-house software training at least three to four weeks ahead: allow time to prepare documents, for HRD Corp to approve the grant, and for the 14-day waiting period. If your go-live date is fixed, work backwards from it.
Which Software Courses Can Be Funded Through HRD Corp
Any registered programme from a registered provider can be funded, and software training is one of the most practical uses of the levy because it directly affects how well a new system is used. iDynamics currently lists these HRDF claimable courses:
AutoCount
- AutoCount Accounting, SST, e-Invoice and MyTax portal setup and linkage (1 day)
- AutoCount system administration, configuration and data migration (1 day)
- AutoCount billing, inventory and e-Invoice hands-on implementation (1 day)
Oracle NetSuite
- Financial fundamentals, CRM and sales lifecycle automation, procurement and inventory management, and project accounting and resource management (2 days each)
- System administration and configuration (3 days)
brioHR
- brioHR payroll, leave and time-off, and time management (2 days)
- brioHR talent management and employee lifecycle system (2 days)
Claude AI for business
- Claude AI fundamentals for business (half day) and Claude AI for business workflows, intermediate (1 day)
If you are implementing AutoCount Accounting or brioHR, pairing the rollout with claimable training means staff learn on your own configuration rather than a generic demo.
How to Get the Most From Claimable Software Training
Funding is only half of the benefit. The other half is whether staff actually change how they work after the course. From our experience running AutoCount, NetSuite and brioHR training for Malaysian companies, these points make the biggest difference.
- Time it with go-live: train users one to two weeks before they start using the system, not months earlier, so they still remember the steps on day one.
- Train by role: finance, sales, warehouse and HR users need different screens. Split batches by role where possible so each session stays relevant.
- Use your own data: in-house sessions on your company’s configuration, with your item codes, customers and pay items, are far more useful than generic examples.
- Include administrators: at least one person should attend system administration training so that small changes, such as new users or document formats, do not always need a vendor.
- Plan a refresher: after the first month-end or payroll cycle, a short follow-up session clears up the questions that only appear in real use.
Keep the course materials and attendance records together with your HRD Corp documents, which also helps if HRD Corp raises a query during the claim.
Common HRDF Claim Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying after training starts: the grant must be applied for before the training date, so a course that has already begun cannot be funded retrospectively.
- Ignoring the waiting period: booking in-house training sooner than 14 days after approval risks the claim.
- Using an unregistered programme: confirm both the provider and the specific programme are registered with HRD Corp.
- Outstanding levy: clear any levy arrears and interest before applying, as they make you ineligible.
- Incomplete attendance: missing attendance records for a trainee or session delays or reduces the claim.
- Missing the six-month window: submit claims promptly after the course ends rather than waiting for the levy year end.
- Wrong levy calculation: leaving fixed allowances out of the levy base underpays the levy, which can later block grant applications.
Next Steps: Plan Your HRDF Claimable Software Training
The simplest approach is to plan training at the same time as your system rollout, so grant approval, waiting periods and go-live dates line up. iDynamics can share the course outline, quotation and trainer profile you need for the eTRiS application, and schedule in-house sessions around your project.
See the full list of HRDF claimable courses from iDynamics, or contact iDynamics for a free training consultation to plan AutoCount, NetSuite or brioHR training for your team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is HRDF claimable training?
HRDF claimable training is training paid for through an employer’s HRD Corp levy balance instead of cash. The course must be run by a registered training provider, the programme must be registered, and the grant must be approved before training starts.
Who must contribute to HRDF in Malaysia?
Employers with 10 or more Malaysian employees in covered sectors must register with HRD Corp and pay a levy of 1% of monthly wages plus fixed allowances. Employers with 5 to 9 Malaysian employees can register voluntarily at 0.5%.
How do I apply for an HRD Corp training grant?
Log in to eTRiS, go to Application, Grant and Apply Grant, then select the HRD Corp Claimable Courses scheme. Choose the training provider and programme, add trainees and costs, attach the quotation, trainer profile and schedule, and submit before the training date.
How long do I have to submit an HRDF claim?
HRD Corp requires training claims to be submitted within six months from the completion date of the training programme. Late claims risk being rejected, so submit attendance and supporting documents soon after the course.
Can software training like AutoCount be claimed under HRDF?
Yes, software training such as AutoCount, Oracle NetSuite or brioHR courses can be claimed if it is a registered programme delivered by an HRD Corp registered training provider. The grant must be approved before the course starts and claims follow the standard HRD Corp rules.
Stephanie Chong
Stephanie writes about Malaysia’s e-invoicing, SST, tax codes, and accounting system readiness for SMEs. At iDynamics Asia, their content helps business owners and finance teams understand LHDN requirements, prepare their accounting software, and avoid common setup mistakes when managing tax-related business processes.
Expertise Areas:
Malaysia e-invoicing, LHDN e-invoice readiness, MyInvois, SST, tax codes, self-billed e-invoices, invoice consolidation, accounting system setup, SME finance operations.
