Disclosed is a system and method for transmitting and receiving hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) buffer capability information in a broadband wireless access communication system. According to the system and method, a mobile station detects its own HARQ buffer capacity, and transmits a message including information about the detected HARQ buffer capability to a base station. The base station receives the message and determines the amount of a transmission signal to be allocated to the mobile station based on the HARQ buffer capability, so that it is possible to operate a HARQ scheme in accordance with the HARQ buffer capability of the mobile station.