PORTLAND – An online tool developed by a business software company and an accounting professor estimates how individual income taxes would be affected under plans put forth by Barack Obama and John McCain.

The Portland-based company Quantrix says taxpayers who log onto www.electiontaxes.com and enter their income can obtain a free estimate of what they would pay in taxes for 2009 through 2012 under each of the two presidential candidates.

Professor Jeffrey Gramlich of the University of Southern Maine, who helped develop the model, said it enables people to make an informed choice when casting their votes.

He said that with just a few keystrokes, the model allows voters to see how the respective tax plans affect their personal bottom line.