I may need to bring in a few expats on temporary working assignments within the next few months. Could be anything from 3 months to 3 years. Is there a way I can pay these people off-shore to avoid tax and still not end up at the mercy of the indonesian tax office?

Yes. But they would need to come in on a Visa B212 (multiple visit) for the purpose of any visit to Indonesia, maximum stay is 60 days. Though this one says not for working (meaning: getting paid/salary, in this case from you within Indo), it does allow them to conduct business activities in certain job specifications.

U can hire them as consultants also and get them to Invoice you for their services as consultant,. then U only have to deduct 6% withholding tax from the Invoice, U still paying something but 6% better than 35%

Or just do it all real low key and don't let anybody in officialdom know anything. I know of several companies here, such as private schools and media groups that hire people from overseas; they come in on tourist visas, go to Singapore to renew it a couple times for the first 3 months or so and no taxes are paid at all -- that is before they are given a formal contract and required to pay taxes and get the kitas type visa.

Yes it's technically not legal, but people do it all the time and for some reason, companies that hire Westerners ("bule") seem to get away with it easier than, say, if they were hiring a person from Taiwan or Nigeria.

Kuku should have more options for you to ponder as well....

thanks for the advice folks !!