A self-similar electron distribution function for inverse bremsstrahlung absorption under planar ablative flow is derived from the Vlasov-Fokker-Planck (VFP) equation. Fluid effects play an important role in the build-up of the steady state and enhance the low-energy part of the distribution function and the well pronounced tail remains (Uryupin S A et al 1995 Phys. Plasmas 2 3100). It is also found that the flux limitation factor is modified, and that the energy of electron carrying dominant heat (EE-CDH) shifts toward the low-energy region by non-Maxwellian effects. The EE-CDH is about half as much as that obtained in the Maxwellian case. These features are essential for isentropic compression and high gain of targets in laser driven implosion.