The load distribution and deformation of rock-socketed drilled shafts subjected to axial loads are evaluated by a load-transfer method. The emphasis is on quantifying the effect of coupled soil resistance in rock-socketed drilled shafts using the 2D elasto-plastic finite element analysis. Slippage and shear load transfer behavior at the pile-soil interface are investigated by using a user-subroutine interface model (FRlC). It is shown that the coupled soil resistance provides the influence of pile toe settlement as the shaft resistance is increased to an ultimate limit state. The results show that the coupling effect is closely related to the value of pile diameter over rock mass modulus (D/$E_{mass}$) and the ratio of total shaft resistance against total applied load ($R_s$/Q). Through comparisons with field case studies, the 2D numerical analysis reseanably presented load transfer of pile and coupling effect due to the transfer of shaft shear loading, and thus represents a significant improvement in the prediction of load deflections of drilled shafts.