Some of you may have noticed that many churches in Mexico that have been operational for decades nonetheless have a somewhat unfinished appearance. For example, there are half-bricks missing from the front of this church in Puerto Vallarta: http://tinyurl.com/4nxjd
The reason? Under Mexican tax laws, once the church is "finished", they have to pay taxes.
This church is called Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, and it's been operational since 1963. It's one of Puerto Vallarta's most recognizable landmarks and tourist attractions. They're open to the public from 7 AM to 10 PM every day.
But they have never had to pay taxes because the church is "unfinished".
As are many other churches in Mexico. So much for rendering unto Caesar.
Sources:
http://www.ucfv.bc.ca/math/faculty/colwell_r/images/PuertoVallarta/Church.jpg -- the full link for the tinyurl above
http://gomexico.about.com/cs/ puertovallarta/a/puertovallarta.htm -- a pop-up hell that calls Our Lady of Guadalupe "Puerto Vallarta's signature landmark"
http://portalsanmiguel.com/trips-of-month/puertovallarta.html -- describes Our Lady of Guadalupe as "perhaps Puerto Vallarta's most unique landmark"
spiregrain says "I seem to remember that the might anglican cathedral in Liverpool is similarly unfinished for the same reason"
Albert Herring says "Standard practice for property in Greece, as well: if you build a new house, you leave an extra top floor permanently under construction."