A Victorian class action is seeking the repayment of up to $500 million paid by citizens of New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, India, Finland, Norway, Japan and Switzerland in foreigner stamp duty surcharges and land tax surcharges that it argues breach Australia’s double taxation commitments.

The federal court claim sought repayment of foreign surcharges that Victoria has levied on property purchases and ownership since 2015, which could be anything between $200 million and $500 million, said John Walker, founder of litigation funding firm CASL.