The International Bar Association has sent a letter to the Mexican Finance Ministry expressing concern over the country’s recent treatment of taxpayers as well as their attorneys and accountants as Mexico attempts to wrangle more revenue from contributors.

The letter, a copy of which has been seen by Law.com International, asserts that the tax administration and the Finance Ministry’s chief counsel are “openly threatening the Rule of Law” by discouraging taxpayers from employing counsel in settlement procedures and threatening both taxpayers and their counsel with criminal penalties if they fail to settle.