As of 1 January next year an information - forensic laboratory, a powerful tool for effective prevention, detection, and sanction of tax evasion and fraud, will start working at Macedonia's Public Revenue Office.

The lab, first of its kind in the region, will process data and documents of taxpayers, whose accounting and financial operations are conducted through digital devices.

"The lab will contribute substantially to detecting various crimes related to tax evasion and other frauds under the jurisdiction of the Public Revenue Office," Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Tuesday at a promotion ceremony.

The Office, he added, will have an opportunity to review the documentation and recording of various accounts, software, computers, for cases that are wiped, annulled and where double bookkeeping exists.

"It offers great opportunity in investigating suspected tax evasion or other crimes related to legal obligations of the Public Revenue Office," Gruevski said.

The new lab sends a message that the Public Revenue Office is capable to deal with potential tax evaders. It will also speed up the regular controls and shorten the duration and our presence in the companies, Public Revenue Office Director Goran Trajkovski said.