ATO queries foreign-bought properties

The tax office has 195 properties in its sights that may have been bought illegally by foreign investors.

The Australian Tax Office is investigating 195 properties that have possibly been purchased illegally by foreign investors.

Acting second tax commissioner Neil Olesen confirmed the number at a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra on Tuesday but was unable to provide a breakdown of price ranges.

"I wouldn't be surprised if a fair slab of them were towards the top end of the market," he said.