How to Claim HRDC for Smart Board Purchases

To claim HRDC for smart board purchases, apply for HRD Corp approval under the Training Facilities and Renovation Scheme (ALAT) before placing an order. Buy the interactive flat panel display within six months of approval, install it in a training venue, and submit the claim after purchase.

How to claim HRDC for smart board equipment

A smart board is commonly used to describe an interactive flat panel display (IFPD). For HRD Corp purposes, the key issue is not the informal product name. It is whether the IFPD qualifies under the current ALAT rules and will be used as a training facility.

This is a pre-purchase process. Your organisation must submit its application and receive approval before committing to buy the panel. An IFPD purchased before approval is not claimable, even if it is later installed in a training room and used for staff courses.

Start by confirming that your company has an available HRD Corp levy balance. Under the ALAT scheme, the annual limit is up to 50% of your levy balance as at 1 January of that year. The available amount, not the panel price alone, will shape what your organisation can claim.

Next, prepare the application based on HRD Corp's current requirements. Your Office Solutions Specialist can help you identify a suitable IFPD, prepare the product quotation and explain the intended training-room setup. HRD Corp makes the approval decision, so no supplier can promise that an application will be approved.

Once approval is received, place the order and complete the purchase within six months. Keep the approval details, quotation, invoice, payment records and supporting documents requested in the claim process. After the IFPD has been purchased and installed for the approved training use, submit the claim through the relevant HRD Corp process.

What HRD Corp ALAT covers for an IFPD

The ALAT scheme is intended to help employers improve facilities used for training. That means the IFPD should serve a real learning purpose, such as internal staff induction, compliance briefings, product knowledge sessions, leadership workshops or structured skills training.

A panel in a dedicated training room is usually easier to justify than one placed only in a boardroom for general management meetings. A multipurpose room may still be appropriate where training is a genuine, documented use, but your application should describe that use clearly and accurately.

The location matters after approval too. The panel must be placed in the training venue and used for training purposes. Do not treat ALAT approval as a general subsidy for meeting-room equipment that will mainly be used for daily video calls or presentations.

Installation and delivery by themselves are not claimable. Build your budget around the eligible IFPD purchase, then ask your Office Solutions Specialist to separate items clearly in the quotation where needed. Clear paperwork makes internal approval and later claim checking much simpler.

Apply before buying: the timing that matters

The most expensive mistake is ordering first and asking about HRDC later. A deposit, purchase order or completed purchase made before HRD Corp approval may put the claim at risk. Bring the HRDC discussion into your purchasing plan before procurement releases the order.

The table below shows the practical difference.

| Step | Correct order for an HRDC claim | What can cause a problem | |---|---|---| | Choose equipment | Select an IFPD for a defined training venue and training use | Selecting a panel only for general meeting-room use | | Submit application | Apply to HRD Corp before purchase | Applying after a purchase order, deposit or purchase has been made | | Receive approval | Wait for HRD Corp's decision | Assuming a quotation means approval is guaranteed | | Buy the IFPD | Complete purchase within six months of approval | Missing the approval validity period | | Install and claim | Place the panel in the training venue, then submit supporting records | Claiming delivery or installation alone, or moving the panel to non-training use |

This sequence can affect your wider project timeline. If your training room renovation, furniture delivery or IT readiness is still uncertain, plan those dependencies early. You do not want an approved IFPD waiting in storage while the six-month purchase window closes, nor should you rush a room decision simply to meet a deadline.

How much can your organisation claim?

The annual cap is 50% of your organisation's levy balance as at 1 January. For example, if the relevant balance on that date is RM20,000, the maximum annual ALAT amount may be RM10,000, subject to HRD Corp's assessment and applicable rules.

This does not mean every panel cost is automatically reimbursed at 50%. It means the scheme has a ceiling linked to your levy position. Your finance or HR team should verify the balance before choosing screen size, quantity and room layout.

For a smaller training room, one appropriately sized IFPD may be more sensible than stretching the budget for a larger screen that staff rarely use. For a room where 15 to 25 people attend workshops, viewing distance, seating layout and whiteboard use may justify a larger display. A site survey helps match the panel to the room rather than choosing by price alone.

Hytech offers interactive flat panel displays that can be purchased outright or through a 36-month instalment plan from about RM203 a month. However, align the payment approach, purchase timing and HRD Corp requirements with your finance team before proceeding. The HRDC claim rules and your organisation's internal procurement rules both need to work together.

Which smart board setup is suitable for training?

An IFPD should make a trainer's work easier. Staff should be able to annotate documents, display slides, share content and run training sessions without searching for projector cables or writing notes that disappear when the whiteboard is wiped clean.

MAXHUB IFPDs are suited to organisations that want a polished training and collaboration experience, including rooms used for Microsoft Teams or Zoom sessions. Hikvision IFPDs can be considered where budget is tighter. The right choice depends on the room, the trainers' working style and how often the equipment will be used.

Do not overlook practical support. Delivery, installation and user training help your team start using the IFPD correctly, but they are not independently claimable under ALAT. Hytech provides site survey, installation and user training, with a response within four working hours for after-sales support.

What documents should you prepare?

Your HR or finance team should keep a clean record from the start. This normally means the HRD Corp approval, the supplier quotation, purchase invoice, proof of payment and any documents required in the HRD Corp submission system.

It also helps to retain a short internal note explaining where the IFPD is installed and what training it supports. For example, state that it is located in the learning room and used for monthly onboarding, safety briefings and department training. Keep the description factual. Avoid describing a boardroom panel as a training facility if that is not its real use.

Requirements can change, so check the current HRD Corp guidance before submitting. The September 2025 Allowable Cost Matrix is the reference point for the eligibility information described here, but HRD Corp's current portal requirements should guide your actual application and claim.

Frequently asked questions

Is every smart board HRDC claimable?

No. The relevant eligible product is an interactive flat panel display used under the HRD Corp ALAT scheme. Eligibility depends on HRD Corp approval, your levy position, the intended training use and the current scheme conditions.

Can we buy the IFPD first and apply later?

No. Apply and receive approval before making the purchase. A purchase completed before approval is not claimable, so involve HR and procurement before an order is raised.

Can we claim delivery and installation costs?

Installation and delivery alone are not claimable. Ask for a clear quotation so your organisation can distinguish the IFPD purchase from supporting services.

How long do we have to purchase after approval?

You must buy the approved IFPD within six months of approval. Plan room readiness, internal sign-off and payment arrangements early so the deadline does not become a last-minute issue.

Can the panel be used for meetings as well as training?

The panel must be placed in the training venue for training use. If a room has mixed use, make sure the training purpose is genuine and accurately reflected in your application.

Does Hytech submit the HRDC application for us?

Hytech is not an HRD Corp training provider and does not decide claim approvals. An Office Solutions Specialist can support you with equipment selection and the information needed for your HRDC claim preparation.

See the IFPD in a real training setup

Before submitting an application, arrange a showroom demo at the Maxsmart Experience Centre in Pavilion Damansara Heights. Seeing the IFPD in a working boardroom helps your team choose the screen size and functions that will genuinely support training, not just fill a wall.