STR 2027 Applications Are Open — But Online Applications Only Start on 15 October

If you saw the headline “STR 2027 applications open from 1 October”, you may have assumed that the online application portal was already open.

It is not.

As of 2 October 2026, the official STR portal confirms two different starting dates:

• 1 October 2026: manual applications can be submitted at Pejabat HASiL;
• 15 October 2026: online STR 2027 applications begin.

That distinction matters, especially for parents and older family members who may not be comfortable applying online.

This guide uses the STR 2027 information officially available at the time of writing. The full 2027 eligibility tables, categories and document requirements should be checked again when LHDN publishes or updates them.

Step 1: Decide whether you are applying at the counter or online

LHDN's official STR portal currently states that manual STR 2027 applications can be submitted at HASiL offices from 1 October, while online applications only begin on 15 October.

If you are comfortable using online government services, there may be little reason to rush to a counter before 15 October.

But a counter application may make more sense if you:

• are not comfortable filling in forms online;
• are helping a parent or older relative;
• want to ask about a complicated family situation;
• prefer dealing directly with HASiL.

Official portal: Portal Rasmi STR

Step 2: Check whether you actually qualify

This is the question worth answering before worrying about the form.

STR is intended to help eligible lower- and middle-income households cope with cost-of-living pressures. However, at the time this article was updated, the public STR page had not yet fully set out all 2027 eligibility bands, household categories and supporting-document requirements.

So do not assume that being eligible last year automatically means every detail remains unchanged.

Before submitting:

1. check the latest STR 2027 eligibility information on the official portal;
2. review your current household situation;
3. confirm any uncertain case with HASiL.

This is especially important for existing recipients whose income, marriage, dependants, bank details or contact details have changed.

Step 3: First-time applicants should organise their information early

The final 2027 document checklist should come from the official STR portal, but first-time applicants can still prepare the basics before the online portal opens.

Have your personal and household information organised, including:

• MyKad details;
• contact information;
• bank details;
• spouse and dependant information;
• income-related information;
• any supporting documents specifically requested by LHDN.

The goal is not to upload documents that have not been requested. It is to avoid discovering halfway through the application that your information is missing or inconsistent.

Step 4: Existing recipients should not simply “leave everything as before”

Many families treat STR as an annual routine: if they received it previously, they assume there is nothing to review.

That can be risky.

Check whether anything has changed over the past year:

• household income;
• marriage or spouse details;
• children or dependants;
• bank account;
• address;
• phone number.

If something changed, make sure the 2027 application reflects the current situation.

If nothing changed, wait for the STR 2027 online system and official guidance to show how existing applications should be handled this cycle.

Step 5: Not being comfortable online does not mean you cannot apply

One practical advantage of the 2027 rollout is that manual applications opened before online applications.

From 1 October, applicants can use a paper form at Pejabat HASiL.

For parents or family members who struggle with online forms, document uploads or login systems, a counter application may be a sensible option. A family member can help organise the information first, then the applicant can follow the official counter process.

Once online applications open on 15 October

A simple approach is:

1. use only the official STR portal;
2. read the latest 2027 eligibility and FAQ information;
3. check your personal and household details;
4. complete or update the application;
5. upload only the documents requested by the system;
6. double-check your MyKad, bank and contact details;
7. keep the submission confirmation for future status checks.

Avoid entering STR login, MyKad or bank information through unknown links sent by social media accounts or messaging apps.

The main thing to remember

You do not need to treat STR as a race.

For now, remember these three points:

• 1 October: manual submission at HASiL offices
• 15 October: online application begins
• Check your eligibility and personal details before submitting

If you are comfortable online, waiting for the 15 October portal may be the easier option. If you are not, the counter route is already available.

Because STR rules can be updated during the application cycle, always use the latest information on the official LHDN STR portal before final submission.